"Well, Margaret! To think that the earl—that his lordship—that—that——When I came in and saw him with you here I felt fit to sink into the ground! Oh, my dear, how ever did you come here?"
"'My wayward feet were wont to stray,'" quoted Margaret, with a laugh.
"What do you say?"
"Oh, it was only a line from a poem, grandmamma. I lost my way, and the earl came in and found me——"
"And—and spoke? And he wasn't angry? My dear, if I had been in your place, I should have longed for the earth to open and swallow me up!"
Margaret laughed softly.
"Of course you mustn't pay any attention to what he said: you mustn't take advantage of his offer about the copying of the pictures. Copy the pictures! Good gracious! as if you'd take such a liberty!"
Margaret opened her eyes.
"I certainly did think of taking it," she said.
"Oh, dear, no; it would never do!" exclaimed the old lady. "It was only politeness on his part to make you feel at your ease, and to show that he wasn't angry. As to his meaning it, why of course he didn't!"