And for the
hundredth time wondered how so human and lovable a man came to possess a
sister of Miss Caroline's description.
"Ha! There you are, Coventry!" exclaimed Tempest, as they came abreast of
the solitary figure. "I've just been telling Miss Lovell that I fancied you
weren't altogether blessing me for having lured you out of your lair to
this sort of parish pow-wow."
"Not at all. It's very good of people like you and Lady Susan to bother
about me, seeing that, even when I am dug up, I'm afraid I'm very poor
company."
Eliot smiled rather briefly as he answered, but there was a certain
friendly good-humour in his eyes as they rested on the other man's face. As
Ann had remarked, no one ever resented the rector's kindly strategy.
"Have either of you seen the greenhouses?" demanded Tempest presently. "No?
Oh, you must. We're rather conceited over our show of flowers this year."
Accordingly they progressed towards the hot-houses, collecting Lady Susan
and Cara, and one or two other scattered guests, as they went. Ann felt
hemmed in. It began to look rather as though she and Eliot would not get a
moment to themselves throughout the afternoon. Then she found him at her
side, and something in the quickly amused glance of his eyes, as they swept
over the gradually increasing numbers of the party, and then met her own,
served to comfort her.
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