"I am very glad to meet you, Lord Stranleigh," she said, advancing from the door and shaking hands with him. "Why didn't you telephone?" asked her brother. His sister laughed merrily. "I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn't I? Why didn't I telephone? Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I'd no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. I am sure, Lord Stranleigh, that he has been descanting on the distraction of the woods and the camp, or perhaps the metropolitan dissipation of Philadelphia, depending on whether the yearning for sport, or his business in town was uppermost in his mind." "My dear Sis," cried Ned with indignation, "that is a libellous statement. I never so much as mentioned Philadelphia, did I, Stranleigh? You can corroborate what I say." "I'm not so sure about that," said Stranleigh, lightly. "Your attempt to drag me into your family differences at this point of the game is futile. I'm going to lie low, and say nothing, as Brer Rabbit did, until I learn which of you two is the real ruler of this house. I shall then boldly announce myself on the side of the leader. My position here is much too comfortable to be jeopardised by an injudicious partisanship." "As for who's boss," growled Ned, "I cravenly admit at once that Sis here is monarch of all she surveys." "In that case," rejoined Stranleigh, heaving a deep sigh of apparent relief, "I'm on the side of the angels. Mrs. Vanderveldt, he did mention Philadelphia and his office there, speaking much about business interests, coal-mines, and what not, during which recital I nearly went to sleep, for I'm no business man. He also descanted on the lakes and the waterfalls and the fishing, and on trout and black bass, and would doubtless have gone on to whales and sea-serpents had you not come in at the opportune moment. Please accept me as your devoted champion, Mrs. Vanderveldt." "I do, I do, with appreciation and gratitude," cried the lady merrily. "I've long wished to meet you, Lord Stranleigh, for I heard such glowing accounts of you from my brother here, with most fascinating descriptions of your estates in England, and the happy hours he spent upon them while he was your guest in the old country. I hope we may be able to make some slight return for your kindness to this frowning man. He is always on nettles when I am talking; so different from my husband in that respect." "Poor man, he never has a chance to get a word in edgewise," growled Ned. "My soul is my own, I'm happy to say." "Ah, yes," laughed the lady, "_pro tem_. But although I am saying so much for myself, I speak with equal authority for my friend Constance Maturin." "Did you bring her with you, or is she coming later?" asked Trenton with some anxiety.