But it was especially her eyes which attracted John's sudden attention at that first glance, her violet eyes, tender, sad, almost pathetic, seeming to ask sympathy and marvellously able to command it.
It was but for a moment that she paused.

Then came the vicar, following her from the drawing-room, and all three went on.

Presently Short heard the front door open and Mr.Ambrose shouted to the fly.
"Muggins! Muggins!" No one had ever been able to say why Abraham Boosey, the publican, had christened his henchman with an appellation so vulgar, to say the least of it--so amazingly cacophonous.

The man's real name was plain Charles Bird; but Abraham Boosey had christened him Muggins and Muggins he remained.

Muggins had had some beer and was asleep, for the afternoon was hot and he had anticipated his "fours." Short saw his opportunity and darted out of the study to the hall where the lady and her little girl were waiting while the vicar tried to rouse the driver of the fly by shouting at him.