"Mr who?--Frazer?--and who's Mr Frazer?"
"He says he knows you--and your mother seems to know him very well."
"Says he knows me!--and mother knows him very well?--what Frazer can it be? I know no Mr Frazer."
Her brother offered a suggestion.
"Perhaps he's one of Billy Frazer's lot--Miss Gilbert, do you know Billy Frazer? He's up at Magdalen; stroked their boats in the torpids; Bones they call him because--well, because he's bony. Perhaps your man's a relative of his."
"I don't know; I don't know any of his relations--his name is Eric."
Miss Vernon turned to her father.
"Dad, who is Mr Eric Frazer?"
"I daresay, if you put Miss Gilbert on the witness-stand, and bombard her long enough, you may get from her the information you require; though in my time it was not supposed to be the thing to cross-examine one's guest the moment one met her--however, we have also changed all that. I am going into the house to speak to your mother. I am very glad to see you, Miss Gilbert; I don't care how you came, or with whom; I am only sorry that I was not here to welcome you. I trust now you have come you'll keep on staying."
The old gentleman moved towards the house; with a figure as erect as if nothing had ever happened to bow his head or bend his back. His daughter looked after him with smiling eyes; then turned to the visitor with a question which took the girl rather aback.