He crossed the road and rang.

Upon the opening of the door, there was a cascade of muslin downstairs. 
His darling Fredi stood out of it, a dramatic Undine.

CHAPTER VI

NATALY

‘Il segreto!’ the girl cried commandingly, with a forefinger at his breast.

He crossed arms, toning in similar recitative, with anguish, ‘Dove volare!’

They joined in half a dozen bars of operatic duet.

She flew to him, embraced and kissed.

’I must have it, my papa! unlock.  I’ve been spying the bird on its hedgerow nest so long!  And this morning, my own dear cunning papa, weren’t you as bare as winter twigs?  “Tomorrow perhaps we will have a day in the country.”  To go and see the nest?  Only, please, not a big one.  A real nest; where mama and I can wear dairymaid’s hat and apron all day—­the style you like; and strike roots.  We’ve been torn away two or three times:  twice, I know.’

‘Fixed, this time; nothing shall tear us up,’ said her father, moving on to the stairs, with an arm about her.

‘So, it is . . . ?’

‘She’s amazed at her cleverness!’

‘A nest for three?’

‘We must have a friend or two.’

‘And pretty country?’

‘Trust her papa for that.’

‘Nice for walking and running over fields?  No rich people?’

’How escape that rabble in England! as Colney says.  It’s a place for being quite independent of neighbours, free as air.’

‘Oh! bravo!’

’And Fredi will have her horse, and mama her pony-carriage; and Fredi can have a swim every Summer morning.’

‘A swim?’ Her note was dubious.  ‘A river?’

’A good long stretch—­fairish, fairish.  Bit of a lake; bathing-shed; the Naiad’s bower:  pretty water to see.’

‘Ah.  And has the house a name?’

‘Lakelands.  I like the name.’

‘Papa gave it the name!’

’There’s nothing he can conceal from his girl.  Only now and then a little surprise.’

’And his girl is off her head with astonishment.  But tell me, who has been sharing the secret with you?’

’Fredi strikes home!  And it is true, you dear; I must have a confidant:  Simeon Fenellan.’

‘Not Mr. Durance?’

He shook out a positive negative.  ’I leave Col to his guesses.  He’d have been prophesying fire the works before the completion.’

‘Then it is not a dear old house, like Craye and Creckholt?’

‘Wait and see to-morrow.’

He spoke of the customary guests for concert practice; the music, instrumental and vocal; quartet, duet, solo; and advising the girl to be quick, as she had but twenty-five minutes, he went humming and trilling into his dressing-room.

Nesta signalled at her mother’s door for permission to enter.  She slipped in, saw that the maid was absent, and said:  ’Yes, mama; and prepare, I feared it; I was sure.’