Derrick
looked no less nervous than she was herself. The girl's cheeks were
flushed, and she half choked over her 'How do you do?'

'I hope you had no difficulty in finding the house. I would have met
you at the station if you had mentioned the train. Oh, but--how
silly!--I shouldn't have known you.'

Miss Derrick laughed, and seemed of a sudden much more at ease.

'Oh, I like you for that!' she exclaimed mirthfully. 'It's just the
kind of thing I say myself sometimes. And I'm so glad to see that
you are--you mustn't be offended--I mean you're not the kind of
person to be afraid of.'

They laughed together. Emmeline could not subdue her delight when
she found that the girl really might be accepted as a lady. There
were faults of costume undeniably; money had been misspent in
several directions; but no glaring vulgarity hurt the eye. And her
speech, though not strictly speaking refined, was free from the
faults that betray low origin. Then, she seemed good-natured though
there was something about her mouth not altogether charming.

'Do you know Sutton at all?' Emmeline inquired.

'Never was here before. But I like the look of it. I like this
house, too. I suppose you know a lot of people here, Mrs. Mumford?'

'Well--no. There's only one family we know at all well. Our friends
live in London. Of course they often come out here. I don't know
whether you are acquainted with any of them. The Kirby Simpsons, of
West Kensington; and Mrs. Hollings, of Highgate--'

Miss Derrick cast down her eyes and seemed to reflect. Then she
spoke abruptly.

'I don't know any people to speak of. I ought to tell you that my
mother has come down with me. She's waiting at the station till I go
back; then she'll come and see you. You're surprised? Well, I had
better tell you that I'm leaving home because I can't get on with my
people. Mother and I have always quarrelled, but it has been worse
than ever lately. I must explain that she has married a second time,
and Mr. Higgins--I'm glad to say that isn't _my_ name--has a
daughter of his own by a first marriage; and we can't bear each
other--Miss Higgins, I mean. Some day, if I come to live here, I
daresay I shall tell you more. Mr. Higgins is rich, and I can't say
he's unkind to me; he'll give me as much as I want; but I'm sure
he'll be very glad to get me out of the house. I have no money of my
own--worse luck! Well, we thought it best for me to come alone,
first, and see--just to se