The Wrong Man 147 



As for Mr. Higgs, he was fairly well satisfied. Of 

 course, he would very much rather have had the baronet 

 for a guest, but civility to his cousin would not be thrown 

 away, and he was not sorry to have a man with him who 

 had known the place in the days when its owner occupied 

 it. The visit was therefore arranged, the date being left 

 open (till Hugh found out precisely when Lady Heather- 

 ton travelled up). Mr. Higgs, who had already been 

 staying at Corriecuisk, was to return at once. 



Hugh's journey up need not be described. Lady 

 Alice was charming, and her mother gracious, delighted 

 that they were to have Mr. Wenhaston's escort. It was 

 so fortunate they were travelling at the same time. 

 What sort of a person was Mr. Higgs ? There was 

 never anyone they knew staying with him. Was he a 

 pleasant person ? He had a daughter, hadn't he ? 

 What w^as she like ? Mr. Wenhaston had never met 

 her ? Mr. Higgs quite a new acquaintance ? Oh, really. 

 Miss Higgs would be there, no doubt ? (Did Hugh catch 

 a fleeting look of displeasure in Lady Alice's eyes at the 

 mention of Miss Higgs, and the idea of Mr. Wenhaston 

 being thrown into familiar association with her ? He 

 was not vain enough to think it, and yet her expression 

 had momentarily changed.) She hoped that he would 

 come on to them afterwards — the one thing Hugh had 

 longed to hear ! — any time that suited him ; they were 

 not nearly full, and would be delighted to see him ; had 

 intended to ask him what he was going to do when they 

 met at dinner last week, but had missed the opportunity. 



Need it be said that the invitation was accepted (for 

 some reason or other Alice looked decidedly happy just 

 at this moment), and that Hugh began to wonder how 

 soon he could decently manage to escape from Corrie- 



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