It is a sad annoyance to him that it is so, and he is
continually trying to make me believe that there is nothing the
matter with me, as if my looks did not speak for themselves."
Mrs. Rintoul afterwards told her husband she could hardly say that
she liked Miss Hannay.
"She is distressingly brisk and healthy, and I should say, my dear,
not of a sympathetic nature, which is always a pity in a young
woman."
After this somewhat depressing visit, the call upon Mrs. Roberts
was a refreshing one. She received her very cordially.
"I like you, Miss Hannay," she said, when, after a quarter of
an hour's lively talk, the Major and his niece got up to go. "I
always say what I think, and it is very good natured of me to say
so, for I don't disguise from myself that you will put my nose out
of joint."
"I don't want to put anyone's nose out of joint," Isobel laughed.
"You will do it, whether you want to or not," Mrs. Roberts said;
"my husband as much as told me so last night, and I was prepared
not to like you, but I see that I shall not be able to help doing
so. Major Hannay, you have dealt me a heavy blow, but I forgive
you."
When the round of visits was finished the Major said, "Well, Isobel,
what do you think of the ladies of the regiment?"
"I think they are all very nice, uncle. I fancy I shall like Mrs.
Doolan and Mrs. Scarsdale best; I won't give any opinion yet about
Mrs. Cromarty."
CHAPTER IV.
The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left
England to join her uncle, been a very bright one.
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