“His Grace, my lady, I assure you, despatched me to your aid. He saw your carriage through his glass, and, guessing what had occurred, directed me to ride over and accompany your Ladyship to the viceregal stand.”
Poor Lady Kil——'s nervousness again seized her, and, with a faint cry for the ever-absent Paul, she went off into rather smart hysterics. During this paroxysm I could not help feeling somewhat annoyed at the young lady's conduct, who, instead of evincing the slightest sympathy for her mother, held her head down, and seemed to shake with laughter. By this time, however, the postilions were again under way, and, after ten minutes' sharp trotting, we entered the grand stand, with whips cracking, ribbons fluttering, and I myself caracoling beside the carriage with an air of triumphant success.
A large dusky travelling carriage had meanwhile occupied the place the Duchess designed for her friend. The only thing to do, therefore, was, to place them as conveniently as I could, and hasten back to inform her Grace of the success of my mission. As I approached her carriage I was saluted by a burst of laughter from the staff, in which the Duke himself joined most extravagantly; while O'Grady, with his hands on his sides, threatened to fall from the saddle.
“What the deuce is the matter?” thought I; “I didn't bungle it?”
“Tell her Grace,” said the Duke, with his hand upon his mouth, unable to finish the sentence with laughter.
I saw something was wrong, and that I was in some infernal scrape, still, resolved to go through with it, I drew near, and said,
“I am happy to inform your Grace that Lady Kil——”
“Is here,” said the Duchess, bowing haughtily, as she turned towards a spiteful-looking dowager beside her.
Here was a mess! So, bowing and backing, I dropped through the crowd to where my companions still stood convulsed with merriment.
“What, in the devil's name, is it?” said I to O'Grady “Whom have I been escorting this half-hour?”