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Martin flushed, looking a little conscious, but said in a sullen tone: ‘Well, I do wish it, but of course I don’t ! You need not be so quick to take me up!’
‘Military anecdotes are never acceptable to e between the cousins had not occurred ‘I have no intention of encouraging Desborough to enlarge upon his experiences in Spain The reflections of a General h of the late war: those of a junior officer can only weary his auditors’
‘You need feel no alarm on that score, ma’am,’ said Theodore ‘My cousin has not altered so much!’
This was uttered so dryly that the Chaplain felt himself impelled to step into a possible breach ‘Ah, Mr Theodore, you rest us who can clai him, while we –’
‘I have met him occasionally,’ interrupted Theodore ‘His es possible’
‘Just so – precisely as I was about to reh to have a kindness for him!’
‘I have always had a great kindness for him, sir’
The reappearance of Miss Morville, bearing a small fire-screen set upon an ebony stick, which she handed to the Dowager, created a ti that she was very ed to her ‘I do not kno I shall bear to relinquish you to your worthy parents when they return from the Lakes, for I ahter – Lady Graenteel person to bear me company, and to run my little errands for me If ever I should decide to do so I shall offer the post to you, I promise you!’
Miss Morville, not so swift as Mr Clowne to recognize her ladyship’s wit, replied to this pleasantry in a practical spirit ‘Well, it is very kind in you to think you would like to have me to live with you, ma’am,’ she said, ‘but I do not think it would suit h to do’
‘You like to be very busy, don’t you?’ Theodore said, s at her in some amusement
‘Yes,’ she replied, seating herself again in her chair, and resuhtfully: ‘It is to be hoped that I shall never be obliged to seek such a post, for ible for any post but that, perhaps, of housekeeper’
This prosaic observation appeared to daunt the company A silence fell, which was broken by the ubiquitous Mr Cloho said archly: ‘What do you think of, Miss Morville, while your hands are so busy? Or must we not seek to know?’
She looked rather surprised, but replied with the ut whether I should not, after all, er When they are washed at home, you know, they don’t shrink; but it is sadly different at Caht to be ashamed of themselves!’
Finding that this reflection evoked no response froain applied herself to her work, and continued to be absorbed in it until Martin, who had quick ears, jerked up his head, and ejaculated: ‘A carriage! At last!’
At the saht informed the initiated that the door beyond the Grand Staircase had been opened; there was a subdued noise of bustle in the vestibule, and the sound of trae-drive Miss Morville finished knitting her row, folded the sock, and bestowed it neatly in the tapestry-bag Though Martin nervously fingered his cravat, the Dowager betrayed by no sign that she had heard the sounds of an arrival Mr Clowne, taking his cue froer ear to the platitude which fell fro from one to the other, seemed to hesitate to put himself forward
A murmur of voices from the vestibule indicated that Abney, the butler, had thrown open the doors to receive his newthe steward, and a couple of foot back obsequiously; and in another instant a sliure came into view Only Miss Morville, seated in a chair with its back turned to the vestibule, was denied this first glioodround the back of her chair; and the Dowager, to mark her approbation, addressed another of her majestic platitudes to her
All that could at first be seen of the seventh Earl was a classic profile, under the bri Hessians, and a drab coat of raceful folds, which enveloped him fro to the butler: ‘Thank you! Yes, I remember you very well: you are Abney And you, I think, lad to see you again’
He turned, as though aware of the eyes which watched hi his stepowned in purple satin, a turban set upon her gray locks, her Ro before the fireplace, one hand gripping the highinto the pocket of his satin breeches; his cousin, standing a little in the background, and slightly s at hiiance to the Dowager He regarded thehtfully, while with one hand he removed the beaver from his head, and held it out, and with the other he relinquished his gloves and his cane into the care of a footman His hat was reverently taken from him by Abney, who murmured: ‘Your coat, my lord!’
‘My coat, yes: in aunhurriedly towards the Hall
An instant Theodore hesitated, waiting for the Dowager or for Martin to n; then he strode forward, with his hands held out, exclai: ‘Gervase, my dear fellow! Welcome!’
Martin, his affronted stare taking in the nuh polish on the Hessian boots, the extravagant points of a shirt-collar, and the ordered waves of guinea-gold hair above a white brow,but a curst dandy!’