Thought she'd ask for me when she wanted me. We've always been the
greatest friends. I'm a bachelor, you see--never married. Not that
I'd like you to fancy that I've no interest in the other sex, far
from it, but I'm a wanderer by nature. A wife in every port,
perhaps. Well, who knows? But one's lonely at times, one is indeed.
A pretty tidy little place you've got here. Yes, you have--with a
garden too."
Paul came in, and Maggie saw him start as Mathew's stout figure
surprised him. She felt then a rush of hostility against Paul. It
was as though, at every point, she must run in fiercely to defend
her uncle.
Meanwhile Grace's worst fears were realised. The little maid
announced Miss Purves and Mrs. Maxse. A terrible half-hour followed.
Miss Purves, as soon as she understood that this strange man was
Mrs. Trenchard's uncle, was all eager excitement, and Uncle Mathew,
bewildered by so many strangers, confused by a little unsteadiness
in his legs that would have been nothing had he not been in a small
room crowded with furniture, finally clasped Mrs. Maxse by the
shoulder in his endeavour to save himself from tumbling over the
little table that held the cakes and bread-and-butter.
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