"
Philippa shrugged her shoulders and appealed almost feverishly to
Helen, who had just entered the room.
"Helen, do come and listen to Captain Griffiths! He is making me
feel quite creepy. There are secrets about, it seems, and he wants
to know all about Mr. Lessingham."
Helen smiled with complete self-possession.
"Well, we can set his mind at rest about Mr. Lessingham, can't we?"
she observed, as she shook hands.
"We can do more," Philippa declared. "We can help him to judge for
himself. We are expecting Mr. Lessingham for dinner, Captain
Griffiths. Do stay."
"I couldn't think of taking you by storm like this," Captain
Griffiths replied, with a wistfulness which only made his voice
sound hoarser and more unpleasant. "It is most kind of you, Lady
Cranston. Perhaps you will give me another opportunity."
"I sha'n't think of it," Philippa insisted. "You must stay and
dine to-night. We shall be a partie carr?e, for Nora goes to bed
directly after dinner. I am ringing the bell to tell Mills to set
an extra place," she added.
Captain Griffiths abandoned himself to fate with a little shiver of
complacency. He welcomed Lessingham, who was presently announced,
with very much less than his usual reserve, and the dinner was in
every way a success. Towards its close, Philippa became a little
thoughtful.
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