But if _she_ sometimes found Martindale oppressive--too old, too large, too rich, too perfect--how was it going to strike a young Canadian, fresh from the prairies, who had never been in England before?
A sudden sound of many footsteps in the hall.

The drawing-room door was thrown open by Philip, and a troop of men entered.

A fresh-coloured man with grizzled hair led the van.
"Well, Mrs.Gaddesden, here we all are.

Philip has given us a capital day!" A group of men followed him; the agent of the property, two small neighbouring squires, a broad-browed burly man in knickerbockers, who was apparently a clergyman, to judge from his white tie, the adjutant of the local regiment, and a couple of good-looking youths, Etonian friends of Philip.

Elizabeth and Mariette came in from the garden, and a young cousin of the Gaddesdens, a Miss Lucas, slipped into the room under Elizabeth's wing.