"I am sorry; I expected to find my father here," she said. "It used to be his room."
"Yes, it was his room," said the young man. "If you will come in and sit down I will send for him."
"It doesn't matter, thank you," said Joan, still standing by the door. "If you will tell me where his room is now, I will go to him."
"He—he is in the general office," said Robert Vyner, slowly.
Miss Hartley bit her lip and her eyes grew sombre.
"Don't go," said Mr. Vyner, eagerly. "I'll go and fetch him. He is expecting you."
"Expecting me?" said the girl. "Why, he didn't know I was coming."
"Perhaps I misunderstood him," murmured Mr. Vyner. "Pressure of business," he said, vaguely, indicating a pile of papers on his table. "Hardly know what people do say to me."
He pushed a comfortable easy-chair to the window, and the girl, after a moment's hesitation, seated herself and became interested in the life outside. Robert Vyner, resuming his seat, leaned back and gazed at her in frank admiration.
"Nice view down the harbour, isn't it?" he said, after a long pause.