"And Lord Selbie?" she asked. "Shall we see him?"
"Did you ask him?" asked Lady Angleford, her brow wrinkling eagerly. "Is he in England? Have you heard that he has returned?"
Another woman would have been embarrassed, but Lady Wolfer was too accustomed to getting into scrapes of this kind not to find a way out of them.
"Isn't that like me? Nell, dear—this is my cousin and our guardian angel, Miss Lorton—Lady Angleford! Did we ask Lord Selbie?"
Nell smiled and shook her head.
"N-o," she said; "his name was not on the list, I think."
Lady Angleford, who had been looking at her with interest, went up to her.
"It wouldn't have been any use," she said. "He is abroad—somewhere."
She stifled a sigh as she spoke.
"Then there is no need for us to feel overwhelmed with guilt, Nell," said Lady Wolfer. "Come and warm yourself, my dear. Oh, that gout! No wonder you won't join the 'Advance Movement!' You've quite enough to try you. Nell, come and tell Lady Angleford how hard I work."