"No; I came with Mr Frazer." "Mr who?--Frazer?--and who's Mr Frazer?" "He says he knows you--and your mother seems to know him very well." "Says he knows me!--and mother knows him very well?--what Frazer can it be? I know no Mr Frazer." Her brother offered a suggestion. "Perhaps he's one of Billy Frazer's lot--Miss Gilbert, do you know Billy Frazer? He's up at Magdalen; stroked their boats in the torpids; Bones they call him because--well, because he's bony. Perhaps your man's a relative of his." "I don't know; I don't know any of his relations--his name is Eric." Miss Vernon turned to her father. "Dad, who is Mr Eric Frazer?" "I daresay, if you put Miss Gilbert on the witness-stand, and bombard her long enough, you may get from her the information you require; though in my time it was not supposed to be the thing to cross-examine one's guest the moment one met her--however, we have also changed all that. I am going into the house to speak to your mother. I am very glad to see you, Miss Gilbert; I don't care how you came, or with whom; I am only sorry that I was not here to welcome you. I trust now you have come you'll keep on staying." The old gentleman moved towards the house; with a figure as erect as if nothing had ever happened to bow his head or bend his back. His daughter looked after him with smiling eyes; then turned to the visitor with a question which took the girl rather aback. "Well, Dorothy, what do you think of my father?" "Frances!--what a thing to ask me!--when I've seen him for scarcely five minutes!" "Well?--isn't that long enough to enable you to form an opinion? I've summed up most people inside two seconds." "Yes--all wrong. Frances, you are an idiot; I never did know anyone talk quite such drivel as you do." "Thank you, James; I am obliged to you. Would you mind going away to play? I have something which I wish to say to my friend, Miss Gilbert, which I would rather not have overheard by boys. And please remember how easily a bad impression is formed--don't let Miss Gilbert find out your true character in the first two minutes." "All right, ducky; don't you worry. I give you my word I've no wish to listen to the sort of stuff I know you are fond of talking. Miss Gilbert, you have my sympathy." The young gentleman strolled off, his hands in his pockets, whistling a popular air. Miss Vernon regarded his back with the same smiling eyes with which she had followed her father; and put almost the same question to her friend. "Dorothy, what do you think of Jim?" "Frances!--how can you?--when you know very well that I think nothing." "You are quite right, my dear; I am glad you show such penetration. All the same, you can't deny that he is good-looking." "Is he? I didn't notice." "You didn't notice! Child!--you're not in the convent now." "No; sometimes I wish I were." "That's a flattering thing to say!--considering where you are!--and that I am here!"