My lord's arm crept round her and held her tight against him. After a moment she disengaged herself and stood aside. Jack's eyes, still a little bewildered, fell upon his brother. He struggled up on his elbow.
"Am I dreaming? Dick!" His voice was full of a great joy. Richard went quickly to him, trying to put him back on the cushions.
"My dear Jack—no, no—lie still!"
"Lie still?" cried my lord, swinging his feet to the ground. "Not a bit of it! I am well enough, but a trifle dizzy. How in thunder did you come here? Surely 'twas you knocked up my sword? Yes? Interfering young cub! Give me your arm a minute!"
"But why do you want to get up?" pleaded a soft voice in his ear.
"So that I can take you in my arms, sweetheart," he answered, and proceeded to do so.
Then his glance, wandering round the room, alighted on the heated group by the table; Andrew vociferously indignant, Tracy coolly sarcastic, and O'Hara furious.
"Tare an' ouns!" ejaculated my lord. "Where did they all spring from?"
"I don't quite know!" laughed Diana. "Sir Miles came a few minutes ago—the other gentleman came with Mr. Carstares."
"Ay, I remember him—'tis Andrew, eh, Dick? Zounds! how he has grown! But what in the world are they all fighting over? Miles! Miles, I say!"