ONE<br >OLD FRIENDS MEET<br > I WILL inquire， sir， if you will please wait here， said the foot-<br >man， and， to the visitor s surprise， walked out of the front door<br >into the sunlit grounds of Brett Hall.<br > There was no sound inside the house except the impatient<br >tapping of the visitor s foot. The cut of his clothes， his rimIess<br >glasses and the square toes of his highly polished shoes pro-<br >claimed， to the English eye， that he was an Arrierican--as had<br >his voice when he had spoken tq the footman.<br > He became aware of watching eyes. His lean， tanned face<br >grew set and his body seemed， t~. become， rigid， although the<br >movement was almost imperceptible. His gaze riveted on a<br >doorway opposite the staircase.<br > When he saw who was watching him， he relaxed， smiled<br >broadly and strolled forward， over skin rugs and polished<br >wood. The watcher was a little girl of about nine or ten and，<br >although she looked timid， she came to meet him.<br > Good morning， said the child， formally.<br > I thought you were watching me， the American told her.<br > I must apologize， said the child， it was very rude of me. <br >She was a little elfin creature， with long， slim legs and a pointed<br >face. She added， reflectively， I am afraid you are going to be<br >unfortunate， sir. <br > Oh， said the American， startled.<br > I overheard you ask for Dr. Palfrey， said the cladd， and you<br >are not likely to be able to see him for some time. <br > That s a shame， said the American.<br > You see， grandfather s eleven is batting. <br > Batting， said the American， with some relief. I think I<br >follow you now. Dr. Palfrey is playing a game. <br > Why， yes， cricket， declared the child.<br > I ve never seen anyone play cricket，"the American confided.<br > You--haven t? <br > They don t play it much where I come from， he told her.<br > 7<br ><br >