The Laird nodded.

“The girl is capable of doing the most unexpected things, Andrew.  I really think she’ll play the game.  When she told me what her intentions were, I believe she stated the absolute truth.”

“Well, let us hope she doesn’t change them, sir.  Remember, she has no more intention of marrying him this morning than she had when she fled from Port Agnew.  I was certain of that when listening to her on the telephone the other night.  However, sir, I want to go on record, here and now, as disclaiming responsibility for anything that may occur hereafter.  I am not the seventh son of a seventh son, and neither was I born with a caul.  Hence, I do not pretend to foretell future events with any degree of exactitude.  I simply guarantee you, sir, that the girl realizes that you have had nothing whatsoever, directly or indirectly, to do with the request for her return.  Also, I give you my word of honor that I have not made her a single promise—­directly or indirectly.”

“Well, I am relieved.  I dreaded the thought that I might be compromised—­indirectly, for, as you well know, Andrew, I have a repugnance to asking favors from anybody to whom I am not prepared to grant them.  My son is my chief happiness.  Now, if I were to ask her to save my happiness, while at the same time reserving the right to deny the girl hers—­well, thank God, I’m saved that embarrassment!  Thanks to you, you fox!” he added.

“Bless my wicked heart!  I’m glad you’ve gone and that I’m out of it so easy,” the general manager soliloquized, as the door closed behind The Laird.

He reached for the telephone and called Mrs. McKaye at The Dreamerie.

“Your husband is on his way home, Mrs. McKaye,” he advised her.  “The girl is here, The Laird has met her and talked with her and is quite happy over the situation.  However, I want to warn you that you will avoid unpleasantness by keeping from him the fact that you asked the Brent girl to come back to Port Agnew.  He thinks I did that, and I have not seen fit, for reasons of my own, to deny it.”

“Why, I asked you not to tell him, Andrew,” she replied, surprised that he should forget it.

“I know.  But you had planned to tell him yourself if, after the girl had arrived, you discovered he was secretly pleased that she had come.”

“Yes; that is true.  However, since you say Hector is quite pleased with the situation, why should I not tell him, Andrew?”

“I have a suspicion the news will trouble him.  He is quite willing to accept of the girl’s services, as it were, but not at the behest of any member of his family.  Better hear what he has to say on the subject before you commit yourself, Mrs. McKaye.”

“Oh, I think I can be depended upon to manage Hector,” she replied confidently, and hung up, for already through the window she could see The Laird’s car taking the grade up Tyee Head.  He arrived a few minutes later and entered smilingly, rubbing his hands as indicative of his entire satisfaction with the universe as constituted that morning.