“It would really have been more embarrassing to us than to yourself,” she said. “Nothing could be better than all the arrangements.”
“I sent my own brougham to you,” said Lothair. “I hope there was no mistake about it.”
“None: your servant gave us your kind message; and as for the carriage, it was too delightful. Colonel Campian was so; pleased with it, that he has promised to give me one, with your permission, exactly the same.”
“I wish you would accept the one you used to-day.”
“You are too magnificent; you really must try to forget, with us, that you are the lord of Muriel Towers. But I will willingly use your carriages as much as you please, for I caught glimpses of beauty to-day in our progress from the station that made me anxious to explore your delightful domain.”
There was a slight burst of merriment from a distant part of the room, and everybody looked around. Colonel Campian had been telling a story to a group formed of the duke, St. Aldegonde, and Mr. Bohun.
“Best story I ever heard In my life,” exclaimed St. Aldegonde, who prided himself, when he did laugh, which was rare, on laughing loud. But even the duke tittered, and Hugo Bohun smiled.
“I am glad to see the colonel get on so well with every one,” said Lothair; “I was afraid he might have been bored.”
“He does not know what that means,” said Theodora; “and he is so natural and so sweet-tempered, and so intelligent, that it seems to me he always is popular.”
“Do you think that will be a match?” said Monsignore Catesby to Miss Arundel.