"If you do not know, I am sure I shall not tell you."
And with an expression of conscious embarrassment on his countenance, my husband asked me to walk with him round the shrubbery.
My mother and Lord Charles did not return till the carriage was driving up. We examined their countenances with a very scrutinizing eye; but on my mother's all we could distinguish was her usual expression of placid and dignified intelligence; that of Lord Charles exhibited its usual cattish and alarming look.
What had passed, therefore, we could not guess; but we saw very clearly, that we should not be justified in joking on the subject of their tête-à-tête; and simply saying that it was beyond the time fixed for his departure, Lord Charles now respectfully kissed my hand, and told Pendarves he hoped he should soon see him in London. He then left the room without taking the smallest notice of my mother, and was driving off before my husband could ask him a reason of conduct so strange.
"Pray, madam," said Pendarves, when he returned into the room, "did Lord Charles take leave of you?"
"He did not."
"Then I solemnly declare that before we ever meet again he shall give me a sufficient reason for his impertinence, or apologize to you; for there lives not the being who shall dare, while I live, to affront you with impunity."
"My dear, dear son," cried my mother, "look not so like, so very like—"
Here her voice failed her, and she leant on Seymour's shoulder, while he affectionately embraced her. Dear to my heart were any tokens of love which passed between my mother and my husband.
Seymour's strong likeness to my father in moments of great excitement always affected her thus, and endeared him to her.