164
THE SURAKARTA
"Miss Regan, sir, in the public reception room, wishes you to come down a moment to speak with her."
Hereford with a surprising mixture of irritation and pleasure, hurried immediately down.
"I have been forced by your stubbornness to change my plans, you see," she met him easily as he advanced to her.
"Yes?" he said, in doubt.
"I have sent my friends on. The matter immediately before us now is so entirely a conventional one between ward and trustee, that it was scarcely necessary to detain them. I was right in believing that you meant to spend the evening at home—I mean that you have no engagement?"
Hereford inclined his head. "You are correct. I was to be at home only for Mc-
