‘No,’ said John, putting a chair for her. He was a little stern, thinking still of the words that had not been said. ‘Jack,’ said Percy, ‘won’t you introduce me to your sister?’ There was nothing but humility and submission in his tone, a change which was almost ludicrous in its completeness. But he had the clerical habit of explaining himself, of making amiable advances, which stood him in stead in the present emergency. ‘I am one of his oldest friends,’ he said, ‘and I hope you’ve heard of me, Miss Sandford. I’m Percy. If Jack hasn’t been a traitor to the old days, I make bold to believe that you must have heard of me.’ ‘I have heard of you, often,’ said Susie, a little puzzled. She perceived now that the conversation which she had interrupted had not been of so affectionate a kind as might have been inferred from this address; and she felt that the character of it had been entirely changed by her appearance--a suggestion which was not unpleasant. ‘I have heard so much of everything at Edgeley,’ she continued, ‘that I feel as if, though I have never been here before, I was coming home.’ ‘I hope,’ said Percy, ‘that we shall succeed in strengthening the impression. I am very sure we shall try our best.’ And with that he sat down again with all the mild persistence of his profession, as if he meant to remain there for the rest of his life. CHAPTER XIII. A NEW INFLUENCE. ‘Percy, did you talk to John?’ ‘Oh, yes. I talked to him a great deal,’ said Percy, without meeting his aunt’s anxious eye. ‘But about the one subject? About----’ ‘Most subjects in earth and heaven.’ He paused a little, and then resumed with embarrassment. ‘If you mean about Elly, Aunt Mary--I--I didn’t. That’s the fact. His sister was there, and---- somehow it didn’t seem suitable,’ the young man said. ‘Of course his sister was there. You knew she was expected: and of course you could not speak before her: but surely there were opportunities.’ ‘I suppose so,’ said Percy, ‘but I didn’t, that is all that can be said.’ ‘Your courage failed you at the last? Well, I don’t wonder: indeed I like you better for it,’ said Mrs. Egerton. ‘I did you injustice, my dear boy. I thought you rather liked the commission. That just proves how wrong we are in forming hasty judgments.’ Percy accepted this conclusion without wincing, and, after a moment of reflection, his aunt added, ‘I am afraid it will have to be done, though, and who is to do it? Your father is no good, and, as for me, I cannot trust myself. I wonder if Mr. Cattley---- but then Mr. Cattley is very fond of Jack.’ ‘He is much fonder of you, Aunt Mary.’ ‘Don’t put it in that ridiculous way. He has a very strong friendship for me. Poor Mr. Cattley! I am very glad he is going: and yet if I were to ask him to do such a thing----’ ‘Of course he would do it. He has always done everything you told him.’