to greet his ward.  She gave him a smile and a left hand, and went on talking.  Lord Buntingford stood by, twisting his moustache, till she had finished.  Then the chauffeur, looking flushed and sulky, got into the car, and the girl with Lord Buntingford ascended the steps.  Mrs. Friend left the window, and hurriedly went back to the drawing-room, where tea was still spread.  Through the drawing-room door she heard a voice from the hall full of indignant energy.

“You ought to sack that man, Cousin Philip.  He’s spoiling that beautiful car of yours.”

“Is he?  He suits me.  Have you been scolding him all the way?”

“Well, I told him a few things—­in your interest.”  Lord Buntingford laughed.  A few words followed in lowered tones.

“He is telling her about me,” thought Mrs. Friend, and presently caught a chuckle, very merry and musical, which brought an involuntary smile to her own eyes.  Then the door was thrown back, and Lord Buntingford ushered in his ward.

“This is Mrs. Friend, Helena.  She arrived just before you did.”

The girl advanced with sudden gravity and offered her hand.  Mrs. Friend was conscious that the eyes behind the hand were looking her all over.

Certainly a dazzling creature!—­with the ripe red and white, the astonishing eyes, and brown hair, touched with auburn, of the Romney sketch.  The beautiful head was set off by a khaki close cap, carrying a badge, and the khaki uniform, tunic, short skirt, and leggings, might have been specially designed to show the health and symmetry of the girl’s young form.  She seemed to walk on air, and her presence transformed the quiet old room.

“I want some tea badly,” said Miss Pitstone, throwing herself into a chair, “and so would you, Cousin Philip, if you had been battling with four grubby children and an idiot mother all the way from London.  They made me play ‘beasts’ with them.  I didn’t mind that, because my roaring frightened them.  But then they turned me into a fish, and fished for me with the family umbrellas.  I had distinctly the worst of it.”  And she took off her cap, turning it round on her hand, and looking at the dints in it with amusement.

“Oh, no, you never get the worst of it!” said Lord Buntingford, laughing, as he handed her the cake.  “You couldn’t if you tried.”

She looked up sharply.  Then she turned to Mrs. Friend.

“That’s the way my guardian treats me, Mrs. Friend.  How can I take him seriously?”

“I think Lord Buntingford meant it as a compliment—­didn’t he?” said Mrs. Friend shyly.  She knew, alack, that she had no gift for repartee.

“Oh, no, he never pays compliments—­least of all to me.  He has a most critical, fault-finding mind.  Haven’t you, Cousin Philip?”

“What a charge!” said Lord Buntingford, lighting another cigarette.  “It won’t take Mrs. Friend long to find out its absurdity.”