"No, Sir George," said she, "this is but an occasional visitor: you are my constant friend."
If this had been said pleasantly, well and good; but the guests looked in vain into their hostess's face for the smile that ought to have accompanied so strange a speech and disarmed it.
"Rarities are the more welcome," said a lady, coming to the rescue; and edged aside to make room for him.
"Madam," said Griffith, "I am in your debt for that explanation; but I hope you will be no rarity here, for all that."
Supper proceeded; but the mirth languished. Somehow or other, the chill fact that there was a grave quarrel between two at the table, and those two man and wife, insinuated itself into the spirits of the guests.
There began to be lulls: fatal lulls. And in one of these, some unlucky voice was heard to murmur, "Such a meeting of man and wife, I never saw."
The hearers felt miserable at this personality, that fell upon the ear of Silence like a thunderbolt.
Griffith was ill-advised enough to notice the remark, though clearly not intended for his ears. For one thing, his jealousy had actually revived at the cool preference Kate had shown his old rival, Neville.
"Oh!" said he, bitterly, "a man is not always his wife's favorite."
"He does not always deserve to he," said Mrs. Gaunt, sternly.