“What time do the posts go, Uncle Bernard? We ought to let mother know of our arrival.”
“I have already directed a telegram to that effect to be despatched. May I suggest that you delay any communication on your own part until we have had a future conversation.”
Checkmate! Mollie gave a vague murmur of assent, and cast about for remark number two.
“It seems so funny to be here and to see all the things we have heard about so often! I recognise this room quite well from mother’s description. There is an alcove behind me, isn’t there, with a harp in the corner?”
“The harp was removed years ago. I imagine there are a great many alterations since your mother’s last visit. The use of the word ‘funny’ is somewhat inappropriate, is it not? I see nothing ludicrous in the position.”
Check number two! Mollie’s wide-eyed perturbation was almost pathetic in its intensity. She was not accustomed to being snubbed in this public fashion, and, after the first shock, a feeling of resentment brought the colour rushing into her cheeks.
“I meant ‘curious.’ The two words are often used for each other.”
“Mistakenly so. Many situations are curious which are not in the least degree amusing.”
“They are indeed!” was Mollie’s mental comment. “The present, for example; anything much less festive I fail to imagine.” Her lips twitched involuntarily as the thought passed through her mind, and, looking up, she met Jack Melland’s eyes fixed full on her, with an answering twinkle in their blue depths. For one agonising moment she trembled upon the brink of laughter, when mercifully the door was thrown open to announce the arrival of the vicar and his wife. Mr Thornton was tall and thin, with a much-lined face full of shrewd kindness and sympathy; his wife was a pretty, plump little woman, who looked on exceedingly good terms with herself and the world at large.
“Thank goodness, they will talk! They look alive, not mere graven images,” Mollie said to herself thankfully, as the necessary introductions were taking place. Then the squire gave his arm to Mrs Thornton, Mr Thornton offered his in turn to Mrs Wolff, and Victor Druce, evidently obeying a previous instruction, paired off with Ruth, leaving Mollie to his companion.