"I'm quite well," replied Dolly, whose mild face wore anything but a pleasant expression. "I say, who is he--the chap talking to Mrs. Veilsturm? He came with you, didn't he?"
"Yes; that is Sir Guy Errington, my cousin and very good friend."
"Oh!" returned Mr. Thambits, after a pause. "I thought he was married?"
"Of course--married Miss Mostyn," murmured Jiddy, meekly.
"Well, marriage isn't a crime," said Eustace, raising his eyebrows. "What is the meaning of the remark?"
"Eh?" answered Dolly, vacantly, with another scowl at Cleopatra. "Oh, nothing only--oh, bother! they've gone into the next room. Come, Jiddy!" and the young man vanished into the crowd, accompanied by his umbra, leaving Eustace in a state of considerable bewilderment.
"Is the boy mad," said that gentleman to himself, "or only jealous? The latter, I think. He sees it too. Confound it! What does it mean? She's surely not going to fight an enemy unworthy of her spear? Yet, I don't know. Women are strange creatures. She must have some reason. I'll go and see what Major Griff says about it."
That redoubtable warrior, looking stiffer, airier, and more military than ever, was talking in his sharp voice to a ponderous gentleman somewhat after the Dr. Johnson type, who was listening attentively.
"Yes, sir," the Major was saying, "I am growing tired of town. I think I'll take a run across to New York."
"And Mrs. Veilsturm?"