May had expected to find Miss Inglis handsome; but she was not prepared for such a young goddess as now swept into the room, with a stride of long, well-knit limbs which made the place seem ludicrously small. Esther Inglis would have attracted notice anywhere, with her splendid, keen-cut, dark face and stately poise of head; and her family might well be proud of her. She was better dressed than Lulu, in a plain but well-fitting gown which was very becoming. "Tired, dear?" asked Lulu affectionately, as her sister, after greeting May, reclined her tall figure in a basket-chair. "Rather; that is, I've a Saturday afternoon kind of feeling. The office was very hot, and the new man can't quite manage the telephone. Where's Mabel?" "Gone to see her friends at Richmond. Give me your hat, dear." She removed her sister's outdoor garb with a deft motherliness which charmed May. Miss Inglis was clearly accustomed to being waited upon; but it seemed quite natural, with her splendid face and figure. CHAPTER X. _Mr. Lang meets his Match._ "And how is Harold, Mrs. Burnside?" Esther asked as they sipped their tea. May gave as favourable an account of his progress as she could, to which Miss Inglis listened thoughtfully. "I'm afraid he has an uphill struggle before him, poor old fellow! Without capital, it seems to me, you can do nothing nowadays? Are there many doctors at Beachbourne?" "A good many; and, of course, it takes time to make a practice." "It's always the same old story--want of money!" sighed Esther pessimistically. "Nowadays the competition is something dreadful; and what will it be for the next generation?" "Why, Esther, you seem in rather a croaking mood!" remonstrated Lulu. "Well, my dear, going about daily in trains and omnibuses, and having to run the gauntlet of every man who thinks that because a girl works for her living she can't possibly be a lady, doesn't tend to sweeten one's view of life." "I suppose there are annoyances in every lot," diffidently put in May. "But there are--there really are--worse things than being obliged to earn one's living. You must be so happy here, able to do just as you like, with nobody to worry you." Esther's brow cleared. "Yes, it's something to be independent, nowadays. And it's too bad to bore you with my grumbles, Mrs. Burnside. I don't often indulge in complaints, do I, Lulu? We three really have a jolly time here; and my salary is to be raised twenty pounds a year, beginning from next month." "Oh, Esther, how splendid!" "Yes, we must go on the river, or have some dissipation to celebrate it. Oh! who can that be?" as a loud knock resounded at the outer door. "My aunt thought I might get lost, and a friend of ours--Mr. Lang--offered to call for me," said May, flushing. "He is earlier than I expected--I hope you don't mind his coming?"