“I would beg of you, madam, not to mention this fact to the Field-Marshal, Miss Kate Dalton's uncle.”
“Oh, of course not; and I trust he will not expect that we could provide him with such delicacies here. Now, doctor, how shall we amuse these people? what can we do?”
“Remember, first of all, madam, that their visit to Ireland is not an excursion of pleasure——”
“Oh, I can perfectly conceive that!” interrupted she, with a look of irony.
“I was about to remark that an affair of deep importance was the cause of their journey—”
“More business!” broke she in again. “After all, then, I suppose I am not much more miserable than the rest of the world. Everybody would seem to have what you call 'affairs of importance.'”
“Upon my word, madam, you have made me totally forget mine, then,” said Grounsell, jumping up from his seat, and looking at his watch. “I came here prepared to make certain explanations, and ask your opinion on certain points. It is now two o'clock, and I have not even opened the matter in hand.”
Lady Hester laughed heartily at his distress, and continued to enjoy her mirth as he packed up his scattered papers, buttoned his greatcoat, and hurried away, without even the ceremony of a leave-taking.