"It'll be all right. The judge knows
what is expected of him, and will disappear at once, making a plausible
excuse, so as not to embarrass Miss King unnecessarily. I shall deal
with the Major. It won't take me five minutes."
"Still," said Simpkins, "it might be better--"
"You can't run away now, in any case," said Meldon. "They've seen
us.--Hullo, Miss King! Here we are at last. I'm sure you thought we
were never coming."
He dragged Simpkins forward by the arm. Miss King, blushing deeply, to
Meldon's great delight, rose from her chair and came forward to meet
them. The judge, a broad smile on his face, followed her. The Major
hung about in the background, and appeared to be nervous.
"You'd like some tea, I'm sure," said Miss King.
"Not for me," said Meldon; "but Mr. Simpkins will be delighted to get a
cup."
"Oh! but you must have some," said Miss King. "You look so hot."
"Mr. Simpkins is hot. I'm not in the least. In fact, what I'd like
most would be a short stroll up the river with Sir Gilbert and the
Major."
"Certainly," said the judge. "I've had my tea, and I'm quite ready for
a walk."
"Come along, Major," said Meldon.
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