So no doubt the second girl-figure was that of Beryl Chicksands, and the other gentleman in khaki was probably Captain Chicksands, for whom Desmond seemed to cherish a boyish hero-worship.

They had been all lunching together at Chetworth, she supposed.
She watched them coming, with a curious mingling of interest in them and detachment from them.

She was to them merely the Squire's paid secretary.

Were they anything to her?
A puckish thought crossed her mind, sending a flash of slightly cynical laughter through her quiet eyes.

If Mrs.Gaddesden's terrors--for she supposed they were terrors--were suddenly translated into fact, why, all these people would become in a moment related to her!--their lives would be mixed up with hers--she and they would matter intimately to each other! She sat smiling and dreaming a few more minutes, the dimples playing about her firm mouth and chin.