Blair took her hand and kissed it, and he looked at Austin Ambrose triumphantly.
"Thank you, thank you," murmured Austin, as if deeply touched. Then after a pause, with a look of respectful admiration, "Miss Hale, I can understand Blair's fascination, he should indeed be the happiest man in England this June morning!"
Margaret blushed still more vividly, and Blair colored, too, but with pleasure.
"I forgot to tell you, Madge," he said, "that Austin is a perfect dab at fine speeches."
"And a martyr to truth," said Austin Ambrose. "And are you sure that you can quite forgive me for intruding this morning?"
"There is nothing to forgive, I am very glad," Margaret said, simply.
Blair drew her gently to her old seat, and then threw himself at her feet. Austin Ambrose seated himself on the bank a little above and in front of them.
"Lord Blair and I are such old friends, Miss Hale," he said, "that I suppose neither of us would think of doing anything important without consulting each other. Not that Blair has consulted me," he added, quickly. "He had made up his mind before he spoke to me, and would not have dreamed of consulting Solomon himself if he had been alive. And I think he was right!"
"Two very outspoken compliments," said Blair laughing with pleasure. "And it's a poor return, old fellow, to tell you that we have made up our minds not to take your advice. I am going to send an announcement of our engagement to the society papers to-night—after I have seen my uncle."