Lenox went down again to find her mother and her stepfather discussing the newcomer.
“Presentable,” said Lady Tamplin, “quite presentable. Her clothes are all right. That grey thing is the same model that Gladys Cooper wore in Palm Trees in Egypt .”
“Have you noticed her eyes—what?” interposed Mr. Evans.
“Never mind her eyes, Chubby,” said Lady Tamplin tartly; “we are discussing the things that really matter.”
“Oh, quite,” said Mr. Evans, and retired into his shell.
“She doesn’t seem to me very—malleable,” said Lady Tamplin, rather hesitating to choose the right word.
“She has all the instincts of a lady, as they say in books,” said Lenox, with a grin.
“Narrow-minded,” murmured Lady Tamplin. “Inevitable under the circumstances, I suppose.”
“I expect you will do your best to broaden her,” said Lenox, with a grin, “but you will have your work cut out. Just now, you noticed, she stuck down her fore feet and laid back her ears and refused to budge.”
“Anyway,” said Lady Tamplin hopefully, “she doesn’t look to me at all mean. Some people, when they come into money, seem to attach undue importance to it.”
“Oh, you’ll easily touch her for what you want,” said Lenox; “and, after all, that is all that matters, isn’t it? That is what she is here for.”
“She is my own cousin,” said Lady Tamplin, with dignity.