"Oh, papa likes everything I like," she said, decidedly. "I wish you to call me Evelyn, and I mean to call you by your first name too—'Miss Lindsay' sounds just like the brown alpaca. What is your Christian name?"
"My name is May," I said; "and I shall be very glad if you will call me May, instead of Miss Lindsay; I shall fancy I am at home again."
"Well then it's settled, May," she said, laughing; "and now you may ring the bell."
Soon after the dessert was cleared away, a rustling of silk was heard in the passages, the door opened, and three ladies entered the room.
The first was a stout, elderly lady, very handsomely dressed. In her younger days I felt sure she had been a beauty, and I think she must have been greatly admired. But she had, I thought, an unpleasant expression in her face, and a haughty and disagreeable manner.
"Well, Evelyn," she said, as she swept past me without a word or a look, "how are you feeling now?"
"Oh, very nicely, thank you, Lady Eldridge," she said; "Miss Lindsay and I have had quite a pleasant chat together."
"Miss Lindsay, ah! Yes, I see," said Lady Eldridge, turning to me for the first time; "the young person whom Sir William has engaged as your companion, Evelyn, I believe."
And then she took no further notice of me, but sat upon the sofa at Evelyn's side, fanning herself vigorously.
There was something in Lady Eldridge's manner which made me uncomfortable and uneasy, and I had withdrawn to the table with my work as the two other ladies advanced to the fire, not intending to take any part in the conversation, when a pleasant, gentle voice by my side said kindly, "You must be tired with your long journey, Miss Lindsay; had you to stop many times by the way?"