“Or Lord De Terrier? I saw them both in the centre room.”
“Lord De Terrier did me the honour of shaking hands with me as I passed through.”
“I never saw such a mixture of people. There is Mrs. Proudie going out of her mind because you are all going to dance.”
“The Miss Proudies dance,” said Griselda Grantly.
“But not at conversaziones. You don’t see the difference. And I saw Spermoil there, looking as pleased as Punch. He had quite a circle of his own round him, and was chattering away as though he were quite accustomed to the wickednesses of the world.”
“There certainly are people here whom one would not have wished to meet, had one thought of it,” said Lady Lufton, mindful of her late engagement.
“But it must be all right, for I walked up the stairs with the archdeacon. That is an absolute proof, is it not, Miss Grantly?”
“I have no fears. When I am with your mother I know I must be safe.”
“I am not so sure of that,” said Lord Lufton, laughing. “Mother, you hardly know the worst of it yet. Who is here, do you think?”
“I know whom you mean; I have seen him,” said Lady Lufton, very quietly.