But no stress of circumstance ever made Ferdy forget his exquisite manners, and when he was ushered into the room a minute later, nothing could have been more polished than his bow, or more graceful than the salute he bestowed on Lady Saltash’s hand.
“Well, young man,” said her ladyship caustically, “you look like a rabbit with a savage dog after it! Is Sheringham hard upon your heels?”
“Thank God, ma’am, no!” he replied earnestly. “Very near thing, though! Greatest presence of mind needed!”
“Not to mention absence of body, I collect!”
He raised Hero’s hand to his lips. “Lady Sherry! Your very obedient! No wish to alarm you, but we are in the basket! Dashed unfortunate you should have been in Bennet Street just then! Poor Sherry cast into such a pucker! Had no notion you was in Bath, you see. Poor fellow was clean floored! Drove the curricle slap into a very pretty sort of a perch-phaeton, and left me to make his apologies while he dashed off to catch up with you. Didn’t find you, but he will, Kitten: you know Sherry! too game to be beaten on any suit!”
“Was he very angry, Ferdy?” she asked anxiously.
“Mad as fire!” he assured her. “Taken a pet at seeing George with you. Don’t like to think George has been gammoning him all this time. Says he only wants to get his hands on him, so I thought best to come round on the instant and warn you, George.”
“Good God, I ain’t afraid of Sherry!” George said, scornfully.
“No, no, George! Pluck to the backbone! All know that! The thing is, you don’t want to have Sherry calling you out again!”
“Let him do so if he chooses!” George replied instantly. “I shall be ready for him, I promise you!”