"Do wait," continued Leo, quickly. "At the gate we fell in with Mr. Custance,--" involuntarily her eye rested on Sue, and Sue was silenced on the instant,--"so then I knew we were all right. We headed him off coming here, for which I knew you would be grateful. He would not have assimilated with Aunt Charlotte's lot." She paused for assent, and perceiving the shot told, proceeded with confidence: "So we took the dear rector along with us--we could do nothing else,--and when I came back, they went on together. I thought it was rather masterly, myself."
"Why, aye, Custance would have been a fish out of water," allowed the general, nodding approval; "though to be sure the clergyman of the parish is always a respectable visitor. But what of young Butts? I hope he did not think it rather cavalier being shipped off in that fashion?"
"You see I was quite civil to him, father. I saw him looking at his watch as if in a hurry to be off; so I suggested making his apologies to you; and we were standing near the door, so it made no disturbance; and my hat was in the hall, and I _was_ so glad to get out into the open air--there was no harm in it, was there, Sue?"
No wonder the recipient of so much diplomacy went home radiant. He really--really he,--dashed if he didn't think he had a chance. If he could only work it up--he hummed and hawed and considered. At length: "I'll tell you what, Aunt Laura, it's no use shilly-shallying when there's so little time. If you can bring about one other meeting----"
"I have thought of that, George, and have secured the Merivale girls for golf-croquet on Thursday."
"Bravo! you don't let the grass grow under your feet. Thursday? That's the last day I have here, but I suppose--no, you could not have done anything sooner."
"And I thought you might ride over to-morrow, with my note?"
"I say! That would look a bit pointed, wouldn't it?"
"Perhaps. But since Leonore was so nice to you to-day----"
"What is it, George?--" a trifle impatiently.
"It's so beastly hard to tell. She's a dear little thing, and if she had been any one else, I should say she was--was----" and he laughed foolishly.
"Look here, Aunt Laura, I'm not a fool, and it seems almost uncanny, don't you know?"