Arabella had been rather relieved to see her wine-glass removed, for although she would have died rather than have owned to it she thought the champagne decidedly nasty, besides making her want to sneeze. She took a revivifying draught of lemonade, glad to discover that in really fashionable circles this mild beverage was apparently served with the second course. Miss Blackburn, better versed in the ways of the haut ton, now found herself unable to form a correct judgment of her host. To be plunged from a conviction that he was truly gentlemanlike to a shocked realization that he was nothing but a coxcomb, and then back again, quite overset the poor little lady. She knew not what to think, but could not forbear casting him a glance eloquent of the warmest gratitude. His eyes encountered hers, but for such a fleeting instant that she could never afterwards be sure whether she had caught the glimmer of an amused smile in them, or whether she had imagined it.
Brough, receiving a message at the door, announced that madam’s groom had brought a hired coach to the house, and desired to know when she would wish to resume her journey to Grantham.
“It can wait,” said Mr. Beaumaris, replenishing Arabella’s glass. “A little of the Rhenish cream, Miss Tallant?”
“How long,” demanded Arabella, recalling Mr. Beaumaris’s odious words to his friend, “will it take them to mend my own carriage?”
“I understand, miss, that a new pole will be needed. I could not say how long it will be.”
A faint clucking from Miss Blackburn indicated dismay at this intelligence. Mr. Beaumaris said: “A tiresome accident, but I beg you will not distress yourselves! I will send my chaise to pick you up in Grantham at whatever hour tomorrow should be agreeable to you.”
Arabella thanked him, but was resolute in refusing his offer, for which, she assured him, there was not the slightest occasion. If the wheelwright proved too dilatory for her patience she would finish her journey by post. “It will be quite an experience!” she declared truthfully. “My friends assure me that I am a great deal too old-fashioned in my notions—that quite a respectable degree of comfort is to be found in hired chaises!”
‘“I perceive,” said Mr. Beaumaris, “that we have much in common, ma’am. But I shall not allow a distaste for hired vehicles to be old-fashioned. Let us rather say that we have a little more nicety than the general run of our fellow-creatures!” He turned his head towards the butler. “Let a message be conveyed to the wheelwright, Brough, that he will oblige me by repairing Miss Tallant’s carriage with all possible expedition.”
Miss Tallant had nothing to do but thank him for his kind offices, and finish her Rhenish cream. That done, she rose from the table, saying that she had trespassed too long on her host’s hospitality, and must now take her leave of him, with renewed thanks for his kindness.
“The obligation, Miss Tallant, is all on my side,” he replied. “I am grateful for the chance which has made us acquainted, and shall hope to have the pleasure of calling upon you in town before many days.”