“Yes, I’m afraid there is.”
The moment he had spoken the words he wished them unuttered. The light faded out of the beautiful eyes, and a pathetic sadness took its place.
“Oh, please don’t tell me that!” she pleaded. “I am enjoying myself so much this evening.”
“Are you? I am glad of that,” said Mauleverer, tugging uneasily at his mustache.
“Yes; I have never been to a place like this before, you know, and it is all so strange and beautiful. I am a little bit afraid of the Marchioness of Severn, but every one else has been so kind that I haven’t felt myself a stranger. I feel almost like the little chimney-sweep who wandered by accident into the state bedroom of the castle, and turned out to be the rightful heir. Please don’t send me back to my chimney.”
The captain swallowed something in his throat.
“I wish I hadn’t promised to, but the fact is I have undertaken to give you a message.”
This time Belle turned to him with a look of something like alarm.
“Can’t you put it off till to-morrow? Do let me have my dream out to-night.”
Mauleverer shook himself.