An observer disposed to interpret the scene might have fancied him a trifle put off by the girl's familiarity, or even, as by a singular effect of her self-possession, stricken into deeper diffidence.

This self-possession, however, took on her own part no account of any awkwardness: it seemed the greater from the fact that she was almost unnaturally grave, and it overflowed in the immediate challenge: "Do you mean to say Van isn't here?
I've come without mother--she said I could, to see HIM," she went on, addressing herself more particularly to Mitchy.

"But she didn't say I might do anything of that sort to see YOU." If there was something serious in Nanda and something blank in their companion, there was, superficially at least, nothing in Mr.Mitchett but his usual flush of gaiety.

"Did she really send you off this way alone ?" Then while the girl's face met his own with the clear confession of it: "Isn't she too splendid for anything ?" he asked with immense enjoyment.

"What do you suppose is her idea ?" Nanda's eyes had now turned to Mr.Longdon, whom she fixed with her mild straightness; which led to Mitchy's carrying on and repeating the appeal.