“As if my hands were not full!”

“Yes, officially, only; now I offer you your choice.  Which will you have?  Shafto or the girl?”

“You need scarcely ask; I’ll take the girl, of course, and leave you Shafto.”

“Oh, you are an old silly!” she exclaimed, ruffling up his grizzled hair; “I wonder which of us will have the better bargain.”

With regard to the subject of Mrs. Gregory’s conversation, Douglas set to work with the proverbial enthusiasm of a new broom and soon became—­as Salter had predicted—­a cog in the whirling wheels of a machine.  But Thursday being the Station holiday, he hired a taxi and had himself driven out to Kokine, in order to call on Mrs. Krauss and Miss Leigh; unfortunately his journey proved to be a waste of time and money.  The leisurely servant who emerged from the entrance of “Heidelberg,” salver in hand, accepted his visiting-card with a salaam, and then announced with stolid unconcern: 

“Missis can’t see.”

CHAPTER XIV

THE MANTLE OF FERNANDA

During the long and weary wait whilst the Blankshire was being made fast, Sophy Leigh and her girl friends had collected in a group taking leave of one another and making plans for future meetings.

“I must say I envy you,” said Lena Morgan, the elder of the two plain, pleasant sisters, whose father was “something in timber.”  “You will be the darling of enormously rich relatives, have several motors, and horses galore.”

“I’m not so sure,” she gaily rejoined. “‘Galore’ is such a big word, but from what my aunt has told us, I believe I shall have what is called ‘a good time,’ and I hope everyone of us will share it.  I expect Aunt Flora will be here to meet me,” she added with happy certainty.

“Why, of course she will,” assented Eva Pomeroy; “she does not have a niece out every mail.  I dare say she has already bought you a nice saddle horse.  You will be riding every morning, and we can meet and arrange all sorts of jolly picnics and expeditions.  I shall come round and look you up as soon as I’ve unpacked and settled.”

At this moment a heavy bang announced the letting down of the gangway, over which a crowd instantly poured and scattered about the decks.

Among the first to appear aft was an immense individual, wearing a loose tussore suit, a huge pith topee, and a black and yellow cummerbund.  His face, with its great jowl, wide lipless mouth, short chin, and a pair of goggle eyes, was distinctly of the frog type.

“Which of you is Miss Leigh?” he demanded in a loud voice, as he approached the group of girls.

Sophy stood forward and before she could evade the outrage, this ugly fat man had put his hands on her shoulders and given her a smacking kiss on each cheek.

Even in this exciting moment of imminent departure, the circle paused for a moment and stared aghast—­such an appalling person to claim and kiss Sophy Leigh!  What a frightful shock for the unfortunate girl—­whilst the sensations of several young men on the verge of the group are better imagined than described!