Frederick coloured hotly. “Well, of course I am excessively sorry, but—”
“Do you know that his master lights a fire in the grate beneath him, to force him up the chimney?” interrupted Arabella.
“Well, I don’t suppose he would go up if—Yes, yes, shocking, I know, but chimneys must be swept, after all, or what would become of us all?”
“Oh, that Papa were here!” Arabella cried. “I see that it is useless to talk to you, for you are selfish and heartless, and you care for nothing but your own comfort!”
It was at this inopportune moment that the door was opened, and the butler announced two morning-callers. He afterwards explained this lapse, which he felt quite as acutely as his mistress, by saying that he had supposed Miss to be still upstairs with That Boy. Frederick made a hasty gesture indicative of his desire that the visitors should be excluded, but it was too late. Lord Fleetwood and Mr. Beaumaris walked into the room.
Their reception was unusual. Lady Bridlington gave vent to an audible moan; her son stood rooted to the floor in the middle of the room, his face flushed, and his whole appearance that of a man who had been stuffed; and Miss Tallant, also very much flushed, bit her lip, and turned on her heel, leading a small urchin over to a chair by the wall, and bidding him gently to sit down on it, and to be a good boy.
Lord Fleetwood blinked upon this scene; Mr. Beaumaris’s brows went up, but he gave no other sign of surprise, merely bowing over Lady Bridlington’s nerveless hand, and saying: “How do you do? I trust we don’t intrude? I called in the hope of persuading Miss Tallant to drive to the Botanical Gardens with me. They tell me the spring flowers are quite a sight there.”
“You are very obliging, sir,” said Arabella curtly, “but I have more important affairs to attend to this morning.”
Lady Bridlington pulled herself together. “My love, we can discuss all that later! I am sure it would do you good to take the air! Do but send that—that child down to the kitchen, and—”
Thank you, ma’am, but I do not stir from the house until I have settled what is to be done with Jemmy.”