"But you must."
"What!!!"
"Nothing short of a proposal would deter her from going to service."
"But, I thought you——!"
"Oh, I'll promise to be unavailable by the time you've finished,— Sh! she's coming. Remember your promise to help me, and wish me luck."
"With all my heart," he cried, as she vanished through the door, and the Dowager entered the hall.
Stanley wished the old lady good-morning which she received with chilling condescension, and neither of them spoke for some moments; a precious gain of time, during which her Ladyship put on her gloves, rearranged her cloak, unrolled and re-rolled her sunshade, paced the long hall, alternated glimpses out of the windows by glances up the great stairway, and betrayed every sign of impatient waiting for a tardy companion. The Secretary stood watching her and counting the minutes, which seemed to pass unusually slowly.
Finally the Dowager's patience got the better of her reserve; she faced round and demanded if he had seen her daughter.
"Yes," he replied, very deliberately. "I believe she was in the hall when I came down."
"Believe. Do you not know, Mr. Stanley?"