"Faint heart never won fair lady," said the captain, significantly.
Lord Fitz flushed and looked at him eagerly.
"What do you mean?" he stammered. "Do you know what I've come about, eh? You don't mean to say——"
Then it flashed upon the captain that Lord Fitz had come to propose for Violet's hand.
Here was another tangle!
With a readiness not to be too much commended, the captain pretended to misunderstand him.
"Ah, ha! some sly plan for an outing or a picnic, eh? Well, well, we must find her. Ah, here is Mrs. Mildmay," he said, quickly, as Mrs. Mildmay entered the room.
"I am so sorry, Lord Boisdale," she said, "but Violet is in her room, with a bad headache, and sent me to ask you to excuse her."
"Cer—tainly," said Lord Fitz, half relieved and half disappointed. "I—I think I'll go now. I'm sorry Vio—I mean Miss Mildmay—has a headache. Can I call at the doctor's as I go back—I mean, can I do anything?"
"Oh, no, thank you," said Mrs. Mildmay.