‘What’s the big hurry?’ urged Mr Questing, in his best synthetic American. ‘Wait a bit, wait a bit. The lake won’t get cold. You ought to do some sun bathing. You’d look good if you bronzed, Babs. Snappy.’

‘I’m afraid I really can’t…’

‘Look,’ said Mr Questing with emphasis. ‘I said I wanted to talk to you and what I meant was I wanted to talk to you. You’ve no call to act as if I’d made certain suggestions. What’s the idea of all this shrinking stuff? Mind, I like it in moderation. It’s old-world. Up to a point it pleases a man, but after that it’s irritating and right now’s the place where you want to forget it. We all know you’re the pureminded type by this time, girlie. Let it go at that.’

Barbara gaped at him. ‘There’s a camp stool behind that bush,’ he continued. ‘Come and sit on it. I’ll say this better if I keep on my feet. Be sensible, now. You’re going to enjoy this, I hope. It’s a great little proposition when viewed in the correct light.’

Barbara looked back at the house. Her mother appeared hurrying along the verandah. She did not glance up, but at any moment she might do so and the picture of her daughter, tête-à-tête with Mr Questing instead of swimming in the lake, would certainly disturb her. Yet Mr Questing stood between Barbara and the lake and, if she tried to dodge him, might attempt to restrain her. Better get the extraordinary interview over as inconspicuously as possible. She walked round the manuka bush and sat on the stool; Mr Questing followed. He stood over her smelling of soap, cigars and scented cachous.

‘That’s fine and dandy,’ he said. ‘Have a cigarette. No? OK. Now, listen, honey, I’m a practical man and I like to come straight to the point, never mind whether it’s business or pleasure and you might call this a bit of both. I got a proposition to put up which I think is going to interest you a whole lot, but first of all we’ll clear the air of misunderstandings. Now I don’t just know how far you’re wise to the position between me and your dad.’

He paused, and Barbara, full of apprehension, hurriedly collected her thoughts. ‘Nothing!’ she murmured. ‘I know nothing. Father doesn’t discuss business with us.’