“Loud cheers!” commented Louisa. “It’s about time my young man was ’ere. If he can’t keep his appointments I shall have to talk to him straight.”
As though in answer to this threat a loud single knock came at the door.
“Let him wait a bit,” said Louisa. “Do him good.”
Another knock came and the girl went to the door to upbraid the caller for unmannerly impatience. She withdrew her head quickly.
“It’s Payne,” she announced to her brother.
“Deuce it is!” said Erb with excitement.
In the passage stood a man with a stiff, short, red beard, his upper lip shaven; near to him, a newer arrival, a nervous youth, with a wired flower in his coat, who asked shyly whether Miss Barnes happened by any chance to be at home.
“Trot in,” said Erb, jerking his head. The nervous youth took off his hat and obeyed. “Well, Payne, old man,” said Erb to the other.
“I’ve won the three old ’uns over,” whispered the man with the red beard.
“Good on you!”