Mrs. Barker drew back, but did not utter a cry.  Mrs. Horncastle, with eyes even brighter than her companion’s, smiled.  The red deepened in Mrs. Barker’s cheek.

“This is my room!” she said indignantly, with a sweeping gesture around the walls.

“I should judge so,” said Mrs. Horncastle, following the gesture; “but,” she added quietly, “they put me into it.  It appears, however, they did not expect you.”

Mrs. Barker saw her mistake.  “No, no,” she said apologetically, “of course not.”  Then she added, with nervous volubility, sitting down and tugging at her gloves, “You see, I just ran down from Marysville to take a look at my father’s old house on my way to Hymettus.  I hope I haven’t disturbed you.  Perhaps,” she said, with sudden eagerness, “you were asleep when I came in!”

“No,” said Mrs. Horncastle, “I was not sleeping nor dreaming.  I heard you come in.”

“Some of these men are such idiots,” said Mrs. Barker, with a half-hysterical laugh.  “They seem to think if a woman accepts the least courtesy from them they’ve a right to be familiar.  But I fancy that fellow was a little astonished when I shut the door in his face.”

“I fancy he was,” returned Mrs. Horncastle dryly.  “But I shouldn’t call Mr. Van Loo an idiot.  He has the reputation of being a cautious business man.”

Mrs. Barker bit her lip.  Her companion had been recognized.  She rose with a slight flirt of her skirt.  “I suppose I must go and get a room; there was nobody in the office when I came.  Everything is badly managed here since my father took away the best servants to Hymettus.”  She moved with affected carelessness towards the door, when Mrs. Horncastle, without rising from her seat, said:—­

“Why not stay here?”

Mrs. Barker brightened for a moment.  “Oh,” she said, with polite deprecation, “I couldn’t think of turning you out.”

“I don’t intend you shall,” said Mrs. Horncastle.  “We will stay here together until you go with me to Hymettus, or until Mr. Van Loo leaves the hotel.  He will hardly attempt to come in here again if I remain.”

Mrs. Barker, with a half-laugh, sat down irresolutely.  Mrs. Horncastle gazed at her curiously; she was evidently a novice in this sort of thing.  But, strange to say,—­and I leave the ethics of this for the sex to settle,—­the fact did not soften Mrs. Horncastle’s heart, nor in the least qualify her attitude towards the younger woman.  After an awkward pause Mrs. Barker rose again.  “Well, it’s very good of you, and—­and—–­I’ll just run out and wash my hands and get the dust off me, and come back.”

“No, Mrs. Barker,” said Mrs. Horncastle, rising and approaching her, “you will first wash your hands of this Mr. Van Loo, and get some of the dust of the rendezvous off you before you do anything else.  You can do it by simply telling him, should you meet him in the hall, that I was sitting here when he came in, and heard everything!  Depend upon it, he won’t trouble you again.”