Sebastian's reassurances were drowned in the hoot of a motor-horn, and a chorus of laughing chatter. Through the wide windows and through the open door, a miscellaneous crowd swarmed into the hall, and paused abruptly at sight of the strangers.
"Aureole, forward please, and serve," remarked somebody flippant. And Aureole stepped apologetically from the throng, striving to smooth her tawny hair, loosened under the motor-veil.
"You must forgive me; of course I've muddled dates again. It's Mrs. Gilchrist and her husband, isn't it?"
"No," contradicted the prim girl, "it's Miss Fortescue and her brother. I wrote you were to expect us this evening. You are Mrs. Strachey, I suppose?"
"Yes,--but--but you said you couldn't come till the end of September," stammered their hostess. Whereupon Miss Fortescue produced Mrs. Strachey's own letter, bidding them welcome on the fifteenth of August; damning evidence before which the culprit remained merrily unabashed.
"I am a goose! Let's run round and see where I can put you. It was a shame to let you wait; we were picnicking. Did you ring?... Oh, I see! It doesn't matter in the least; we're breaking things all day long here. Mr. Mowbray, do be an angel, and help Ada carry up these trunks; you are so strong."
Mr. Mowbray, a stolid bronzed young man, evidently in the army, signified his willingness to act as porter. And then Sebastian, who had noted with relief the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson from the party, broke off his conversation with Letty, and, drawing Aureole aside, asked her if she could find him a room anywhere. "Because I'd like to move in at once."
She scrutinized him intently ... then her gaze flickered to Letty.
"Yes. I see. You are feeling the pull--the strain. She is the moon, and you the tide ... it draws and draws ... I understand, Mr. Levi." She motioned him to follow her up the wooden stairway which rose from the centre of the hall. Miss Fortescue and Bertie had preceded them, and: "This is the rummest boarding-house I've ever known," the latter was heard whispering to his dazed sister, as Aureole and Sebastian approached them.
Not aware of aught unconventional in her reception of the Paying Guest, Aureole stopped on the first landing; and, frowning with a sort of reproach at the various unresponsive doors, said she believed that all those rooms were full.--"You see, I thought you would be Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist; and then I expected you the day before yesterday."