'Say too thirsty. May I?' He carried his cup round to Lady John, not seeming to see Hermione's hospitable hand held out for it.
In the general shuffle Farnborough found himself carried off by Sophia and Lord John.
'Who is our fourth?' said Lady Sophia, suddenly.
'Oh, Borrodaile!' Lord John stopped halfway across the lawn and called back, 'aren't you coming?'
'It's not a bit of use,' said Sophia. 'You'll see. He's safe to sit there and talk to Miss Levering till the dressing-bell rings.'
'Isn't she a nice creature!' said Lord John. 'I can't think how a woman like that hasn't got some nice fella to marry her!'
'Would you like to see my yellow garden, Vida?' Lady John asked. 'It's rather glorious at this moment.'
Obvious from the quick lifting of the eyes that the guest was on the point of welcoming the proposal, had Filey not swallowed his belated cup of tea with surprising quickness after saying, 'What's a yellow garden?' in the unmistakable tone of one bent upon enlarging his experience. Lady John, with all her antennæ out, lost no time in saying to Vida—