The butler looked dispassionately at the confusion and withdrew, giving it up as a hopeless task. A moment later he returned to inform Eric that her ladyship would be with him immediately. Ten minutes later Barbara came in by another door to find him cautiously picking his way through the disorder and examining her books and pictures.
"I didn't expect you so early," she began. "Will you give me a little kiss, or am I still a nuisance?"
"You didn't say any time, so I chanced half-past one," Eric answered. "If you'd told me to come at two, you'd still have been ten minutes late, wouldn't you?" he added with a laugh. "Lady Barbara, your conception of tidiness——"
She opened her eyes wide at him in unfeigned surprise.
"My dear, but you should see my bedroom!" she suggested.
"The purple bedroom?"
"Did you remember that? I believe you're beginning to like me, Eric. Come and sit down instead of fidgeting."
He paused to finish his inspection, ending up with the nursery toy-cupboard on the mantel-piece.
"Hullo! I don't know this one of Jack Waring," he exclaimed on reaching a cabinet photograph in a silver frame.
Barbara lighted a cigarette and came beside him, resting her hand on one shoulder and looking over the other at the photograph, her hair brushing against his cheek.