"Lady Esmondet will excuse us, Blanche, while we change our travelling dresses."
"Certainly."
Sir Tilton flew to open the door; the Colonel seeing them to their appartments, and their maids in attendance, returned to the loving rest of his home birds.
"Well, uncle dear, how do you feel after your run to and fro?" said Vaura, affectionately, and going behind his chair, drew his head backwards, kissing his face in welcome.
"Passing well, dear; here, take this chair beside me, and let me look at you; the Scotch lakes and sea-bathing have agreed with you, and with Lady Alice also," he added kindly.
"Eric, what did you think of New York," enquired Lady Esmondet, to divert his attention from her personally.
"Oh, it is just a large handsome city, with cosmopolitan cut in its very corner store, representing much wealth in its many fine buildings; there is a good deal of taste displayed in its burying grounds, and parks, and nearly all has a look of rapid growth about it, so different to our London."
"As our old slow-growing Oak in comparison with their Pines," said
Vaura; "and what of the people generally?"
"Just what we know them to be, dear, full of energy and active life; sleeping never, I do believe, or if so, with eyes open."
"So full of mercury that it tires one even to think of them," said
Vaura lazily.