Surely Max would not be so inconsiderate as to bring him straight in to her without a moment's preparation! This was evidently his intention, however, for she heard their footsteps drawing nearer, and she was possessed by a momentary shyness so acute that she nearly fled through the window.

It really was too bad of Max! "Come in here!" she heard him say, and with an effort she braced herself to encounter the stranger.
He entered, paused a second, and came forward.

And in that second very strangely and quite completely her embarrassment vanished.

She found herself shaking hands with a large, kindly man, who looked at her with deep-set, friendly eyes and asked her in a voice of marvellous softness how she was.
Her heart warmed to him on the instant, and she forgave Max forthwith.
"I am quite well," she said.

"Have you walked from the station?
Please sit down!" He was years older than Max, she saw, this man whom the latter had so airily described as his pal.