Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER VIII As the balcony was too small for another chair, and Mr Skinner did not come to the window, his daughter led her guest into the sitting-room. "Papa," she said, "you will recall the gentleman whom we met yesterday at the British Museum." Mr Skinner lifted to its place the pince- nez which depended on a gold thread from the lapel of his carefully-buttoned frock-coat, and scrutinised the person indicated in a painstaking manner. "Ah, yes, indeed," he said, continuing his gaze, but with no salutation, and no offer of the hand. "It's so dark in here, I don't beh'eve you do," she remarked, to cover the awkwardness of the moment. "The sun hasgone now,' any way," and she moved back and put a hand upon the awning- cord. "Permit me," said David, hurrying to her side, and pulling at the shade. "He's out of sorts about something," the girl murmured furtively. "Don't mind it; just leave him to me." In the brightened light, Mr Skinner's demeanour seemed no more cordial. He regarded his visitor with a doubtful glance, and gave indications of a sense of embarrassment in his presence. The daughter, however, was in no respect dismayed by her responsibility. " Papa," she said with brisk decision, " it was all a joke yesterday. Our friend was so amused by your offer yesterday " " I beg your pardon, Adele," the father interposed ceremoniously, "but it becomes immediately incumbent upon me to express my dissent. To obviate any possible misconception, it should be explicitly stated that, although it is true that the task of formulating the proposal to which you allude did undoubtedly devolve upon me, the proposition itself both in spiritand suggestion, originated in your own consciousness." "All right," she hurriedly went on. " have it anyway you like. The po...