It was a woman.

I saw her on the verandah." The candid grey eyes were looking straight at Dickson, who managed to bring his own shy orbs to meet them.

He thought that he detected a shade of hesitation.

Then Mr.Loudon got up from his chair and stood on the hearthrug looking down at his visitor.

He laughed, with some embarrassment, but ever so pleasantly.
"I really don't know what you will think of me, Mr.McCunn.Here are you, coming to do us all a kindness, and lease that infernal white elephant, and here have I been steadily hoaxing you for the last five minutes.