“It was not a success for me,” he said carelessly, “but my sister is thinking of a big water-party, if this fine weather continues. That, I hope, will go off better.”
Lucian began to cross the room.
“Where shall you go?” said the lady.
Lucian was close at hand.
“No,” said Oliver Carisbrooke, in a low full voice, which only Amethyst heard. “No, it will not be.”
Lucian bowed, and Amethyst held out her hand to him.
“Thank you for allowing me to come,” he said. He did not try to look unconscious. He meant every one to see that he came with an object. Sylvester, at once admiring and suffering, owned that he could not have done it half so well.
“You have come back suddenly to England,” said Amethyst.
“Yes, my friend had an accident.”
“That was very unfortunate for you?”