Marianne was quite as discomposed as he, and stood trembling, her face averted to hide the sudden rush of startled tears to her eyes. Lady Grampound’s exclamation of: “Good gracious, what’s all this, pray?” did nothing to soothe her agitation. She had no voice with which to speak even such few, disjointed words as rose to her lips; and it was with profound gratitude that she laid her shaking hand on the Earl’s arm. He had crossed the room, and was saying in his quiet way: “I came in search of you, for another set is forming, ma’am. I saw the sad accident which befell your gown, and I hope my brother has been of assistance in pinning up the lace.”
“Oh, yes! So kind!” she managed to say. “It is of no consequence — the tiniest rent!”
She went with him thankfully to the door, but here they were met by Lord Ulverston, who said, in a rallying tone: “Ger, you are a base fellow, and are trying to steal a march on me! Miss Bolderwood is promised to me for this dance! Unhand her, villain!”
He perceived as he spoke that she was suffering from some embarrassment. One swift glance round the room, if it did not put him in possession of the facts, at least informed him that Martin was in some way to blame for this; and with the ready address which sprang as much from good-nature as from good-breeding he continued to rattle on in his droll style, accusing his friend of treachery, and insisting that he would very likely call him out for it in the morning.
“No, no!” said Gervase, ably seconding his efforts. “ That would be a great breach of hospitality! If you can be so unmindful of your duty towards your host, I at least shall not forget my duty towards my guest!”
“Humdudgeon, Ger! Miss Bolderwood, do not be taken-in by these soft words! He played me just such a trick once in France, and was not for a moment at a loss to explain why he should not be punished for it! But, come! We shall find no places if we don’t make haste!”
The Earl relinquished her into his friend’s care, and she allowed herself to be led back into the ballroom. Gervase turned to look his brother up and down, and to say icily: “Have the goodness to preserve the appearance at least of a gentleman, Martin! These manners may do very well at a Covent Garden masquerade: they are out of place at Stanyon!”
“How dare you?” Martin ejaculated, starting forward a pace. “ You are not to be the arbiter of my conduct!”
“You are mistaken. I am the only arbiter of the conduct of those who live under my roof!”
“Yes! You would like to be rid of me, would you not? You are afraid you have no chance with Marianne while I — ”