So it happened that soon after three o’clock she presented herself at the bungalow.
She knew nothing of the arrangement her father had made to be there at four o’clock.
Philip was out, Davis said, so Phyllis put her cycle in the stable and made herself comfortable by the fire to wait, removing her hat. As it got near four o’clock she went to the window, and to her horror saw her father cycling up the road.
In a panic she ran to the kitchen and told the astonished Davis on no account to let her father know she was there, then fled into Philip’s bedroom, and shut the door, scarcely daring to breathe.
She heard her father come in, and then Philip.
“No, I am not disposed to shake hands, Philip, till we have had a little conversation,” she heard her father say.
In fact, she heard all that followed.
Philip knew from this opening remark that he had not been mistaken in supposing that Colonel Lane was “on the war-path.”
“As you like, sir,” he replied coldly.
“There is something between you and Phyllis that you have been keeping secret,” went on the Colonel.