Judge Jacky was flying about, now here and now there, now everywhere at once.
Ambrosia Wylie, in a gold-colored satin, that harmonized well with her warm-hued tone of beauty, sat in the bay window, the sunny center of a system of satellites.
General Garnet, who had got through with the political business that detained him at Huttontown, had just arrived, and was now standing apart, conversing with Lionel Hardcastle. He frowned darkly on seeing Elsie enter the room leaning on the arm of Magnus, and both looking so self-possessed, confident, and happy.
He smoothed his brow quickly, however, excused himself to Lionel, and advanced toward them. Bowing slightly to Magnus, he took the arm of Elsie, and saying that he wished to have a conversation with her, drew her off for a promenade.
In going off, Elsie turned, smiled on Magnus, and said:
“If I do not return in half an hour, Dr. Hardcastle, you must seek me out,” and, bowing playfully, she went on.
“Was that done to insult me, Miss Garnet?”
“No, dearest father, it was done out of respect to Dr. Hardcastle; as you forgot to excuse yourself to him for taking me off so abruptly, it would have been scarcely courteous in me to have left him without a word. We would not have treated a common acquaintance so, father.”
“A common acquaintance! And pray what more is Dr. Hardcastle entitled henceforth to be considered?”
“As my husband, and as your son-in-law, father.”