CHAPTER X.
Radmore felt secretly relieved that he and Timmy got home too late for him to see Mr.Tosswill alone before dinner.

And when at last he came down, just a minute or two late, for he had to do things for himself to which he had become unaccustomed--unpacking his bag, putting out his evening clothes, placing of studs in his evening shirt, and so on--he found what looked to him like a large party of strangers all gathered together in the dear old drawing-room.
As he walked in among them he looked first with quick interest at the three girls.

Yes, Timmy was right--Rosamund was lovely.

Dolly struck him as commonplace, though as a matter of fact she looked more attractive than usual.

Betty looked very hot--or was it that the exquisite complexion that once had been her chief physical beauty had gone?
After a moment or two Betty slipped out of the room, leaving Radmore and Mr.Tosswill shaking hands quite cordially, if a little awkwardly.
"Well, sir, here I am again, turned up just like a bad penny!" And his host answered absently:--"Yes, yes, Godfrey--very glad to see you, I'm sure." Then, after he had shaken hands with Janet and Tom, they all stood together on the hearthrug waiting, so Radmore supposed, for the parlourmaid to come in and announce dinner.
But instead of that happening, the door opened and Timmy appeared.