“You seem rather afraid of Mr. Daly,” said he, with a sneering laugh.
“And so would you be, too, if he was as near you as that chap is,” replied Tate, sternly. “I 've known braver-looking men than either of us not like to stand before him. I mind the day—”
Tate-s reminiscences were brought to a sudden stop by perceiving his mistress and Miss Darcy approaching the cottage; and hastening forward, he threw open the door, while by way of introduction he said,—
“A gentleman for the master, my Lady.”
Lady Eleanor flushed up, and as suddenly grew pale. She guessed at once the man and his errand.
“The Knight of Gwynne is from home, sir,” said she, in a voice her efforts could not render firm.
“I understand as much, madam,” said Nickie, who was struggling to recover the easy self-possession of his manner with the butler, but whose awkwardness increased at every instant. “I believe you expect him in a day or two?”
This was said to elicit if there might be some variance in the statement of Lady Eleanor and her servant.
“You are misinformed, sir. He is not in the kingdom, nor do I anticipate his speedy return.”
“So I told him, my Lady,” broke in the old butler. “I said the King wanted him—”