“Yes, papa.”
“Ha! yes! A good dinner’s a nice thing when you can enjoy it free and unfettered, but it’s like matrimony, my dear, full of restrictions, and very disappointing when you come to taste it. Well, there, there, there, now we have had our little talk and confidences, we will go upstairs to the drawing-room. It will be more cheerful for you.”
He rose, taking his child’s hand, kissing it tenderly, and holding it before he drew it through his arm, while Maude sighed gently, and suffered herself to be led upstairs.
Her ladyship was better, and she smiled with a sweetly pathetic expression in her countenance as Maude entered with her father, rising, and crossing to meet them, and kissing her child upon her forehead.
“Bless you, my darling!” she said; “pray be happy in the knowledge that you are doing your duty. Go now, Justine.”
“Yes, my lady,” said that sphinx; and as soon as they were alone her ladyship continued—
“Yes, in the thought that you are doing your duty. At your age I too had my little love romance, but I was forced to marry your poor papa.”
“Oh, damn it, my dear!” cried his lordship, looking at his wife aghast; “I was forced to marry you.”
“Barmouth! That will do! Maude, my child, I begged Sir Grantley to come and dine with us en famille this evening.”
“Oh, mamma!” cried Maude, “was that wise?”