"I assure you, yes. Positively. A gray gloom had settled upon us. We pictured you in all sorts of horrid situations. I was just going to call for volunteers to scour the country, or whatever it is that one does in such circumstances. I used to read about it in books, but I have forgotten the technical term. I am relieved to find that you are not even dusty, though it would have been more romantic if you could have managed a little dust here and there. But don't consider my feelings, Miss McEachern, please." Molly introduced Jimmy to the newcomer. They shook hands, Jimmy with something of the wariness of a boxer in the ring. He felt an instinctive distrust of this man. Why, he could not have said. Perhaps it was a certain subtle familiarity in his manner of speaking to Molly that annoyed him. Jimmy objected strongly to any one addressing her as if there existed between them some secret understanding. Already the mood of the old New York days was strong upon him. His instinct then had been to hate all her male acquaintances with an unreasoning hatred. He found himself in much the same frame of mind, now. "So you're Spennie's friend," said Mr. Wesson, "the man who's going to show us all how to act, what?" "I believe there is some idea of my being a 'confused noise without', or something." "Haven't they asked you to play _Lord Algernon_?" inquired Wesson, with more animation than he usually allowed himself to exhibit. "Who is _Lord Algernon_?" "Only a character in the piece we are acting." "What does he do?" "He talks to me most of the time," said Molly. "Then," said Jimmy decidedly, "I seem to see myself making a big hit." "It's a long part if you aren't used to that sort of thing," said Wesson. He had hoped that the part with its wealth of opportunity would have fallen to himself. "I am used to it," said Jimmy. "Thanks." "If that little beast's after Molly," thought Jimmy, "there will be trouble." "Come along," said Molly, "and be introduced, and get some tea." "Well, Molly, dear," said Lady Jane, with a grateful smile at the interruption, "we didn't know what had become of you. Did Dandy give you trouble?" "Dandy's a darling, and wouldn't do anything of the sort if you asked him to. He's a kind little 'oss, as Thomas says. He only walked away when I got off to pick some roses, and I couldn't catch him. And then I met Jimmy." Jimmy bowed. "I hope you aren't tired out," said Lady Jane to him. "We thought you would never arrive. It's such a long walk. It was really too careless of Spennie not to let us know when he expected you." "I was telling Spencer in the automobile," put in Lady Blunt, with ferocity, "that _my_ father would have horsewhipped him if he had been a son of his. He would." "Really, Julia!" protested Lady Jane rather faintly. "That's so. And I don't care who knows it. A boy doesn't want to forget things if he's going to make his way in the world. I told Spencer so in the automobile."