With an impetuous movement she turned her face over her shoulder--that
vivid pink and white face which made such a startling contrast to
Elspeth's stolidity--and stared with widely-opened hazel eyes into that
other pair of eyes so near her own.
It was the younger Mr Elgood sure enough,--but seen close at hand, with
that mischievous smile curling his lips, he had an extraordinary
youthful and boyish appearance. Margot received an instantaneous
impression of kindliness and strength, of a glinting sense of humour,
before the change came. Such a change! If she had been a wild animal
prepared to spring, horror and dismay could not have been more
eloquently depicted upon his face. The eyes widened, the features
stiffened into a mask, the outstretched hand fell limply to his side.
He opened his lips to say something, several things, but the words were
unintelligible; a mere broken stammer of apology, as he wheeled round
and walked hastily from the room.
The door slammed behind him; she heard his footsteps over the flagged
hall. Poor Margot! Never before in her life had she so keenly desired
to make a good impression; never had she so signally failed. It was
indeed an unpromising beginning to the campaign!