"I am not too warm," replied Miss Kendall, with an indescribable arching of her skinny throat.
"No, it’s not a parrot that she is like—it’s a vulture," thought Olwen. "I can fancy her hopping sideways after a bit of carrion! I should like to see Nin deal with her!" Aloud she made one more effort.
"Do you live in the Caryngston direction?"
"No," replied the vulture, and made no further conversational attempt.
Olwen felt greatly inclined to say, "Oh, very well, sulk if you want to!" but at this painful instant the door opened and the master of the house walked in. She was so pleased to see him that she actually gave him what he would have called the "glad eye"—receiving in return a flash of green light which gave her a queer sensation of pleasure. They had had a tiff, and to both this exchange of looks seemed to say that all was right once more between them.
The looker-on thought she detected some embarrassment or self-consciousness in the cordiality of the greeting the young man received from the General and his wife; but Miss Kendall became a different creature at once. With much play of eyes and tossing of furs she made way for him upon the settle at her side. Olwen had risen at once upon his entrance, and the appearance of Sunia with the tea gave her occupation at some little distance, so that she could not hear what Nin was saying, only that he was making Miss Kendall laugh. Her high titter resounded through the lofty chamber. But when Olwen rose and began to hand round cups, he instantly rose also, took possession of the cake-stand, and did his duty as host in a manner which pleased Olwen enormously.
"Your ayah is wonderful," said Rose, accepting her cup. "I always think she is immortal, like ’She’ in Rider Haggard’s story. She never seems to grow any older, and she lends such a _bizarre_ touch! The contrast of the feudal fortress and the Oriental servant!"
"What’s _bizarre_, teacher?" asked Ninian of Olwen, with a wicked look.
"_Bizarre_ is the word which describes the effect of Sunia in the Pele, as Miss Kendall has just told you," replied Olwen, rather saucily, perhaps, but she had been a little nettled by Miss Kendall’s ill-breeding.
"Sunia is so devoted in her attendance on your mother that I should hardly have thought you required anybody else," went on Rose, her eyes fixed disparagingly upon Olwen.