It was clear to Elsie French, in the background, that Daphne neither knew the lady nor the lady's name, and that the visit had taken her entirely by surprise.
Barnes recovered himself quickly.

"I had no idea you were in these parts," he said, as he brought a chair forward for the visitor, and stood beside her a moment.
Lady Barnes, observing him, as she stiffly greeted the new-comer--his cool manner, his deepened colour--felt the usual throb of maternal pride in him, intensified by alarm and excitement.
"Oh, I am staying a day or two with Duchess Mary," said the new-comer.
"She is a little older--and no less gouty, poor dear, than she used to be.

Mrs.Barnes, I have heard a great deal of you--though you mayn't know anything about me.

Ah! Dr.Lelius ?" The German, bowing awkwardly, yet radiant, came forward to take the hand extended to him.
"They did nothing but talk about you at the Louvre, when I was there last week," she said, with a little confidential nod.

"You have made them horribly uncomfortable about some of their things.