er the
upstanding collar of a tweed coat. He looked at once plain and
distinguished, and in the quizzical eyes and beetling eyebrows there was
an unmistakable likeness to the _grande dame_ standing by Claire's side.
Just for a moment he paused, as he came in sight of the group of
passengers, and Claire, meeting his glance, knew who he was, even before
he came forward and made his greeting.

"Holla, Mater! Sorry to be late. Not my fault this time. I was ready
all right, but the car did not come round. Had a good crossing?"

"My dear, appalling! Don't talk of it. I was prostrate all night, and
Mason too ill to do anything but moan. She's been no use."

"Poor beggar! She looks pretty green. But-- er--" The plain face
lighted with an expectant smile as he turned towards the girl who stood
by his mother's side, still holding the precious bag. "You seem to have
met a friend..."

"Oh--er--yes!" With a gesture of regal graciousness Mrs Fanshawe
turned towards the girl, and held out her gloved hand. "Thank you _so_
much, Miss Gifford! You've been quite too kind. I'm really horribly in
your debt. I hope you will find everything as you like, and have a very
good time. Thank you again. _Good-bye_. I'm really dropping with
fatigue. What a relief it will be to get to bed!" She turned aside,
and laid her hand on her son's arm. "Erskine, where _is_ the car?"

Mother and son turned away, and made their way down the platform,
leaving Claire with crimson cheeks and fast-beating heart. The little
scene which had just happened had been all too easy to understand. The
nice son had wished for an introduction to the nice girl who a moment
before had seemed on such intimate terms with his mother: the mother had
been quite determined that such an introduction should not take place.
Claire knew enough of the world to realise how different would have been
the proceedings if she had announced herself as a member of the "idle
rich," bound for a course of visits to well-known houses in the country.
"May I introduce my son, Miss Gifford? Miss Gifford has been an angel
of goodness to me, Erskine. Positively I don't know what I should have
done without her! Do look after her now, and see her into a taxi. Such
a mercy to have a man to help!" That was what would have happened to
the Claire Gifford of a week before, but now for the first time Claire
experienced a taste of the disagreeables attendant on her changed
circumst