"Hullo! Here's a stroke of luck."
McTaggart barred her further progress.
"What are you doing out so early?" His blue eyes were mischievous.
"How do you do?" she said demurely. "I'm shopping." Conversation failed her.
"Can I come, too?" McTaggart asked. He turned without waiting for permission.
The maid, with dog-like fidelity, fell to heel behind the pair, and, lowering his voice, he added:
"I began to think I must have missed you."
"Am I late?" said Cydonia. "I shall really have to buy something. I told Mother it was Christmas presents... And I shouldn't like to tell a lie."
"We'll buy the whole street," said McTaggart, ministering to the wounded conscience. "Let's cross over and look at Asprey's—their window's bursting with 'suitable gifts.'"
They dodged across between the taxis, heedless of the nervous maid.