'I assure you it is all for the family honour. Tout est perdu fors l'honneur.—That was the fellow's sentiment—wasn't it?'
'I don't see the application.'
'Don't you? Sha'n't I be ploughed to a dead certainty if I go on trying to carry this on at home!' said Lord Ernest, much more seriously. 'How about l'honneur then?'
Robina could not deny the danger, and knew not how to answer. He saw his advantage, and pursued it. 'Was not reading, under the circumstances, a delusion? You won't speak treason? Never mind, I see it in your eyes. You know that between all the K Ts within and without doors, it was providential that I retained sufficient combination of ideas to effect my escape before I was quite distracted.'
'I don't think you guess the distress you have caused,' said Robina, gravely.
'What, Gracie has written you a deplorable letter? Gone to the bad entirely, am I? My mother weeping, my father wailing, my sister sobbing, our K T wringing her hands—' Then, as she moved decidedly away, with a gesture expressive of deep displeasure, 'Nay—I declare they are re-assured. Even if you haven't—I have written to my father; and they know by this time that the vortex I have rushed into is nothing worse than a conglomeration of antiquarian old fogies.'
'Oh! if you have written—' she began, feeling that Felix had been right, and she herself more or less of a goose.
'Yes. I have written to explain that my brain won't stand being beset within doors and without, and to propose joining Harewood's reading-party.'
Robina fairly started. 'Do you know if he will have you?'
'I hope he can. He is a crack coach, you know, little as he looks it. Wonderfully able man when he makes the most of himself.'