Making a call at Oldclough, he found his august relative in a very majestic mood, and she applied to him again for information.
"Perhaps," she said, "you may be able to tell me whether it is true that Belinda Bassett—Belinda Bassett," with emphasis, "has been invited by Mr. Burmistone to assist him to receive his guests."
"Yes, it is true," was the reply: "I think I advised it myself. Burmistone is fond of her. They are great friends. Man needs a woman at such times."
"And he chose Belinda Bassett?"
"In the first place, he is on friendly terms with her, as I said before," replied Barold; "in the second, she's just what he wants—well-bred, kind-hearted, not likely to make rows, et caetera." There was a slight pause before he finished, adding quietly, "He's not the man to submit to being refused—Burmistone."
Lady Theobald did not reply, or raise her eyes from her work: she knew he was looking at her with calm fixedness, through the glass he held in its place so cleverly; and she detested this more than any thing else, perhaps because she was invariably quelled by it, and found she had nothing to say.
He did not address her again immediately, but turned to Lucia, dropping the eyeglass, and resuming his normal condition.
"You will go, of course?" he said.
Lucia glanced across at my lady.
"I—do not know. Grandmamma"—