“What am I to say?”

“Not another word.”

It seemed as though he couldn’t speak another word, for he went to the window and stood there silently, looking into the street. As he did so, there came another visitor to Miss Mackenzie, whose ringing at the doorbell had not been noticed by them, and Miss Baker was announced while Mr Rubb was still getting the better of his feelings. Of course he turned round when he heard the lady’s name, and of course he was introduced by his hostess. Miss Mackenzie was obliged to make some apology for the gentleman’s presence.

“Mr Rubb was expected next week, but business brought him down to-day unexpectedly.”

“Quite unexpectedly,” said Mr Rubb, making a violent endeavour to recover his equanimity.

Miss Baker looked at Mr Rubb, and disliked him at once. It should be remembered that she was twenty years older than Miss Mackenzie, and that she regarded the stranger, therefore, with a saner and more philosophical judgment than her friend could use,—with a judgment on which the outward comeliness of the man had no undue influence; and it should be remembered also that Miss Baker, from early age, and by all the association of her youth, had been taught to know a gentleman when she saw him. Miss Mackenzie, who was by nature the cleverer woman of the two, watched her friend’s face, and saw by a glance that she did not like Mr Rubb, and then, within her own bosom, she called her friend an old maid.

“We’re having uncommonly fine weather for the time of year,” said Mr Rubb.

“Very fine weather,” said Miss Baker. “I’ve called, my dear, to know whether you’ll go in with me next door and drink tea this evening?”

“What, with Miss Todd?” asked Miss Mackenzie, who was surprised at the invitation.

“Yes, with Miss Todd. It is not one of her regular nights, you know, and her set won’t be there. She has some old friends with her,—a Mr Wilkinson, a clergyman, and his wife. It seems that her old enemy and your devoted slave, Mr Maguire, knows Mr Wilkinson, and he’s going to be there.”

“Mr Maguire is no slave of mine, Miss Baker.”

“I thought he was; at any rate his presence will be a guarantee that Miss Todd will be on her best behaviour, and that you needn’t be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid of anything of that sort.”

“But will you go?”

“Oh, yes, if you are going.”

“That’s right; and I’ll call for you as I pass by. I must see her now, and tell her. Good-morning, Sir;” whereupon Miss Baker bowed very stiffly to Mr Rubb.

“Good-morning, Ma’am,” said Mr Rubb, bowing very stiffly to Miss Baker.

When the lady was gone, Mr Rubb sat himself again down on the sofa, and there he remained for the next half-hour. He talked about the business of the firm, saying how it would now certainly be improved; and he talked about Tom Mackenzie’s family, saying what a grand thing it was for Susanna to be thus taken in hand by her aunt; and he asked a question or two about Miss Baker, and then a question or two about Mr Maguire, during which questions he learned that Mr Maguire was not as yet a married man; and from Mr Maguire he got on to the Stumfolds, and learned somewhat of the rites and ceremonies of the Stumfoldian faith. In this way he prolonged his visit till Miss Mackenzie began to feel that he ought to take his leave.