He was obviously very much in earnest,
and she had found him far from uninteresting.
"By all means," she answered pleasantly, "if you care to. I have
a little flat in Culpole Street - No. 81. You must come and have
tea with me one afternoon."
"Thank you," he said simply, with a sigh of immense relief.
He walked with her to the gate, and they talked about rhododendrons.
Then he watched her till she became a speck in the dusty road - she
had refused a carriage, and he had had tact enough not to press any
hospitality upon her.
"His little girl!" he murmured. "Monty's little girl!"
CHAPTER XVI
Ernestine Wendermott travelled back to London in much discomfort,
being the eleventh occupant of a third-class carriage in a
particularly unpunctual and dilatory train. Arrived at Waterloo,
she shook out her skirts with a little gesture of relief and started
off to walk to the Strand. Half-way across the bridge she came face
to face with a tall, good-looking young man who was hurrying in the
opposite direction. He stopped short as he recognised her, dropped
his eyeglass, and uttered a little exclamation of pleasure.
"Ernestine, by all that's delightful! I am in luck to-day!"
She smiled slightly and gave him her hand, but it was evident that
this meeting was not wholly agreeable to her.
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