Lanfear blurted desperately out: "You are alone? You came--you are going
to stay here--alone?"

"Quite alone," she said, with a passivity in which there was no
resentment, and no feeling unless it were a certain color of dignity.
Almost at the same time, with a glance beside and beyond him, she called
out joyfully: "Ah, there you are!" and Lanfear turned, and saw scuffling
and heard puffing towards them the short, stout elderly gentleman who
had sent him to her. "I knew you would come before long!"

"Well, I thought it was pretty long, myself," the gentleman said, and
then he courteously referred himself to Lanfear. "I'm afraid this
gentleman has found it rather long, too; but I couldn't manage it a
moment sooner."

Lanfear said: "Not at all. I wish I could have been of any use to--"

"My daughter--Miss Gerald, Mr.--"

"Lanfear--Dr. Lanfear," he said, accepting the introduction; and the
girl bowed.

"Oh, doctor, eh?" the father said, with a certain impression. "Going to
stop here?"

"A few days," Lanfear answered, making way for the forward movement
which the others began.

"Well, well! I'm very much obliged to you, very much, indeed; and I'm
sure my daughter is."