“It was very kind of you, my Lord, very considerate and very kind, indeed, to forget it. Yet I should have fancied it was the very sentiment uppermost in the mind of any one entering this chamber, witnessing the solitary seclusion of my daily life, beholding the resources by which the weary hours are beguiled, not to speak of the ravages which sorrow has left upon these features.”
“On that score, at least, I can contradict you, Hester,” said he, with a smile of flattering meaning. “It is now above eight years since first—”
“How can you be so tiresome?” said she, pettishly.
“Prince Midchekoff, my Lady, presents his compliments,” said a servant, “and wishes to know if your Ladyship will receive him at dinner to-day, and at what hour?”
“How provoking! Yes, say, 'Yes, at eight o'clock,'” said she, walking up and down the room with impatience. “You 'll stay and meet him, Norwood. I know you 're not great friends; but no matter, George is so uncertain. He left us t' other day to entertain the Prince alone, Kate and myself, only fancy; and as he takes half-hour fits of silence, and Kate occasionally won't speak for a whole evening together, my part was a pleasant one.”
“How Florence wrongs you both!” said Norwood. “They say that no one is more agreeable to your Ladyship than the Midchekoff,” said he, slowly and pointedly.
“As Miss Dalton's admirer, I hope rumor adds that,” said she, hastily.
“What? are you really serious? Has the Dalton pretensions?”
“Perhaps not; but the Prince has,” interrupted Lady Hester. “But you are forgetting these people all the while. Do pray do something anything with them; and don't forget us at eight o'clock.” And with this Lady Hester hurried from the room, as if admonished by her watch of the lateness of the hour, but really anxious to escape further interrogatory from the Viscount.
When Norwood reached the court, he was surprised to find it empty; not one of the eager creditors remained, but all was still and silent.