And, indeed, I could excuse him; for she was a very striking object to come suddenly into the immediate range of a man's vision, with her chiffon and her slenderness, and her black hat beneath which her great eyes shone from the startling, nervous, ivory-white face.
She smiled on him graciously.

"I'm so glad to meet you." Then after a fraction of a second came the explanation.

"I've heard so much of you." He murmured something into his beard.

Meeting his childlike gaze of admiration, she turned away and put her arm round Barbara's waist.

The ladies went indoors to take off their things, accompanied by Adrian, who wanted a lover's word with Doria on the way.