But, while all had their eyes cast down, Sir Robert’s voice, grave, quiet, apparently wholly unaffected by what had passed, broke the awkward silence.
“And Miss Pembury,” he said, “I have some news that will interest you, I think. I saw, in a shop in Piccadilly, the companion print to my ‘Farmer’s Daughter.’ ”
Rhoda and Minnie looked up, smiling and admiring his courage.
Lady Sarah was defeated. Her lip trembled, and she had the grace to look ashamed of herself, as she began nervously to play with her bread.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE COMPANION’S ORDEAL
It was a relief to them all when Sir Robert made an excuse of urgent letters to write and bid the ladies good-night immediately after dinner, but on the other hand, Minnie and Rhoda felt very uncomfortable at the prospect of spending the evening in the society of Lady Sarah.
As it turned out, however, things went off better than they had expected. No sooner was Lady Sarah out of her husband’s sight than her spirits returned, and she had the effrontery to say to Rhoda, in a low voice, when Minnie was at the other end of the drawing-room:
“You see how useless it is for you good people to make plots and plans for bad ones like me, don’t you?”
Rhoda could not restrain her indignation:
“It is shocking, Lady Sarah, that you should treat your husband so, for no fault but his being too forgiving.”