ng some seconds for utterance, ejaculated with sublime anger:

"Vulgar!"

His rubicundity had increased and his blandness was dissolved. A terrible
sequel might have occurred, had not the crunch of wheels on the drive been
heard at that very instant. The huge, dim form of a coach drawn by a
ghostly horse passed along towards the front door, just below the diners.
Almost simultaneously the electric light above the front door was turned
on, casting a glare across a section of the inchoate garden, where no
flower grew save the dandelion. Everybody sprang up. Host and hostess,
urged by hospitality, spun first into the drive, and came level with the
vehicle precisely as the vehicle opened its invisible interior. Jane Foley
and Audrey saw Miss Nickall emerge from it rather slowly and cautiously,
with her white kind face and her arm all swathed in white.

"Well, Mr. Spatt," came the American benevolent voice of Nick. "How glad I
am to see you. And this is Mrs. Spatt? Mrs. Spatt! Delighted. Your husband
is the kindest, sweetest man, Mrs. Spatt, that I've met in years. It is
perfectly sweet of you to have me. I shouldn't have inflicted myself on
you--no, I shouldn't--only you know we have to obey orders. I was told to
come here, and here I've come, with a glad heart."

Audrey was touched by the sight and voice of grey-haired Nick, with her
trick of seeing nothing but the best in everybody, transforming everybody
into saints, angels, and geniuses. Her smiles and her tones were
irresistible. They were like the wand of some magical princess come to
break a sinister thrall. They nearly humanised the gaunt parlourmaid, who
stood grimly and primly waiting until these tedious sentimental
preliminaries should cease from interfering with her duties in regard to
the luggage.

"We have friends of yours here, Miss Nickall," simpered Mrs. Spatt, after
she had given a welcome. She had seen Jane Foley and Audrey standing
expectant just behind Mr. Spatt, and outside the field of the electric
beam.

Nick glanced round, hesitated, and then with a sudden change of all her
features rushed at the girls regardless of her arm. Her joy was enchanting.

"I was afraid--I was afraid----" she murmured as she kissed them. Her eyes
softly glistened.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, after a moment. "And I _have_ got a surprise for you!
I have just! You may say it's some surprise." She turned towards the cab.
"Musa, now do come out of that wagon."

And from the