The countess embraced her.
"Not too tired to see me if I come?" she said, in a whisper, and Lady Lenore shook her head.
She put her hand in Leycester's for a moment, as he opened the door for her, and looked into his face; but he would not let her go so coldly, and raising her hand to his lips, said—
"Good-night, Lenore."
The earl started and stared at this familiar salutation, and Lord Charles raised his eyebrows; but Leycester came to the fire, and stood looking into it for a minute in silence.
Then he turned to them and said, in his quiet way—
"Lenore has promised to be my wife. Have you any objection, sir?"
The earl started and looked at him, and then held out his hand with an emphatic nod.
"Objection! It is about the wisest thing you ever did, Leycester."
Leycester smiled at him strangely, and turned to his mother. She did not speak, but her eyes filled, and she put her hand on his shoulder and kissed him.