The gate opened, and Mrs. Hoffman came into the house. She was surprised to see Ulick, and looked at him sharply, thinking to herself, "I wonder what he is doing here? Perhaps he is a friend of Mr. Warren's?"
Mrs. Hoffman always addressed Janet as Mrs. Warren; it sounded more respectable.
Janet was at a loss what to say; she did not wish to give Ulick's name, in case Warren Courtly might hear he had called.
"A friend of yours, Mrs. Warren?" said Mrs. Hoffman, with a smile.
"Yes," said Janet, "a very old friend. I knew him when I was a little girl."
"Mrs. Warren," thought Ulick, thinking the name sounded familiar, but never dreaming of connecting it with Warren Courtly.
Mrs. Hoffman was fond of hearing herself talk, and launched out upon a variety of topics until Ulick wished her anywhere but in his presence. He thought, however, it was diplomatic, for Janet's sake, to be polite, and Mrs. Hoffman was delighted to find such an attentive listener. As a rule, her tirades were cut short with scant ceremony.
She pressed him to have a cup of tea, and, thinking this was the only way to get rid of her for a time he consented.
He went to the window and looked out into the street and saw someone walking down. He could hardly believe his eyes when he recognised Warren Courtly.
"What on earth is he doing here?" he thought.