She stepped out into the light; she wore a frank, charming smile,
with which she held out her hand to Percy Beaumont.

"Oh, you must be Lord Lambeth and Mr. Beaumont," she said.
"I have heard from my husband that you would come. I am extremely
glad to see you." And she shook hands with each of her visitors.
Her visitors were a little shy, but they had very good manners;
they responded with smiles and exclamations, and they apologized
for not knowing the front door. The lady rejoined, with vivacity,
that when she wanted to see people very much she did not insist
upon those distinctions, and that Mr. Westgate had written to her
of his English friends in terms that made her really anxious.
"He said you were so terribly prostrated," said Mrs. Westgate.

"Oh, you mean by the heat?" replied Percy Beaumont.
"We were rather knocked up, but we feel wonderfully better.
We had such a jolly--a-- voyage down here. It's so very good
of you to mind."

"Yes, it's so very kind of you," murmured Lord Lambeth.

Mrs. Westgate stood smiling; she was extremely pretty. "Well, I did mind,"
she said; "and I thought of sending for you this morning to the Ocean House.
I am very glad you are better, and I am charmed you have arrived.
You must come round to the other side of the piazza." And she led the way,
with a light, smooth step, looking back at the young men and smiling.

The other side of the piazza was, as Lord Lambeth presently remarked,
a very jolly place. It was of the most liberal proportions,
and with its awnings, its fanciful chairs, its cushions and rugs,