"
She turned to envelop Robin in a similar flood of meaningless prattle,
while Ann and Tempest sauntered on together.
"Yes," said the latter, his eyes resting thoughtfully on Eliot's distant
figure. "It's a real joy to me to see Coventry here. He's too much of a
hermit. I'm afraid, though," he admitted with a rueful laugh, "I rather
badgered him into coming. And I expect now he is here he's not exactly
blessing me for my persistency! Will you go and be very nice to him,
Ann"--he had dropped into the friendly usage of her Christian name, and
Ann liked it--"and get me out of hot water?"
"I don't suppose you're in it very deeply," she returned, with some
amusement at his air of apprehension.
"Well, I really _made_ him come," confessed the rector apologetically: "I
simply wouldn't take 'no'."
"And you know perfectly well that nobody ever resents what you 'make'
them do," said Ann, smiling. "'The rector have a way with him,' as Maria
remarked the other day."
Tempest's mouth curved in a responsive smile
"Did she? Nice woman, your Maria Coombe. But I expect the real truth of
the matter is that the rector has a particularly kind and long-suffering
flock."
"A good shepherd makes a good flock, I think," said Ann softly.
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