Her father had been a reticent man, and as there was no reason why he should have talked much about his absent friend Foxwell, it was not surprising that Margaret should never have known how close the tie was that bound them.

But now, coming unawares upon the recollection of that friendship in the man who had survived, she felt herself drawn to him as if he were of her own blood, and she thought she understood why she had liked his daughter so much at first sight.
They talked for more than half an hour, and Margaret did not even notice that he had not once alluded to her profession, and that she had so far forgotten herself for the time as not to miss the usual platitudes about her marvellous voice and her astoundingly successful career.
'I hope you'll come and stop with us in Derbyshire in September,' he said at last.

'I'm quite ashamed to ask you there, for we are dreadfully dull people; but it would give us a great deal of pleasure.' 'You are very kind indeed,' Margaret said.

'I should be delighted to come.' 'Some of our neighbours might interest you,' said Lord Creedmore.
'There's Mr.Van Torp, for instance, the American millionaire.

His land joins mine.' 'Really ?' Margaret wondered if she should ever again go anywhere without hearing of Mr.Van Torp.
'Yes.