It was a pleasant dinner, exquisitely cooked and served by discreet, attentive and noiseless servants.
When the ladies returned to the drawing-room the gentlemen seemed to miss them, and after a very little wine was consumed they followed them.
Somebody proposed whist to Mr. Dodson presently. The captain said it was a good idea, and simple-minded Fitz, Mr. Dodson and Bertie and the captain sat down, just for a rubber, while the ladies gave them a little music.
Leicester could play a good hand at any game of cards, and was fond of whist, but he found himself at Violet's side, by the piano.
The captain was induced to sing, and the audience dropped into silence, for when Captain Murpoint pleased he could still conversation most effectively, and never did he sing more effectively than he did then.
When the carriage came up the party was quite loath to break up.
Coombe Lodge was within such an easy drive, and the Park so near, that, as Mr. Dodson said, they were like a family party.
It was a lovely moonlight night, and Leicester proposed that, if they insisted upon going, they should send the carriages on at a slow pace and walk themselves part of the way.
They started and sauntered on, the moonlight pouring down upon them its soft, placid, fitful light, and bathing sea and land, cliff and hollow, in a silver stream.