He is introduced. And Molly, smiling up at him one of her own brightest, kindliest smiles, makes him then and there her slave forever. On the spot, without a second's delay, he falls head over ears in love with her.
By degrees he gets back to Lady Stafford, and sinks upon the sofa beside her. I say "sinks" unadvisedly; he drops upon the sofa, and very nearly makes havoc of the springs in doing so.
"I want to tell you who I saw in town the day before I left—a week ago," he says, cautiously.
"A week ago! And have you been ever since getting here?"
"No; I did it by degrees. First, I went down to the Maplesons', and spent two days there—very slow, indeed; then I got on to the Blouts', and found it much slower there; finally, I drove to Talbot Lowry's night before last, and stayed there until this evening. You know he lives only three miles from here."
"He is at home now, then?"
"Yes. He always is at home, I notice, when—you are here!"
"No!" says Cecil, with a little faint laugh. "You don't say so! what a remarkable coincidence!"
"An annual coincidence. But you don't ask me who it was I saw in London. Guess."
"The Christy Minstrels, without doubt. They never perform out of London, so I suppose are the only people in it now."