"Oh leave Nick alone—he'll make a lot of money," Peter declared cheerfully, following his two companions into the hall.
"I don't in the least care if he does or not," said Lady Agnes. "You must come upstairs again—I've lots to say to you yet," she went on, seeing him make for his hat. "You must arrange to come and dine with us immediately; it's only because I've been so steeped in misery that I didn't write to you the other day—directly after you had called. We don't give parties, as you may imagine, but if you'll come just as we are, for old acquaintance' sake—"
"Just with Nick—if Nick will come—and dear Biddy," Grace interposed.
"Nick must certainly come, as well as dear Biddy, whom I hoped so much to find," Peter pronounced. "Because I'm going away—I don't know when I, shall see them again."
"Wait with mamma. Biddy will come in now at any moment," Grace urged.
"You're going away?" said Lady Agnes, pausing at the foot of the stairs and turning her white face upon him. Something in her voice showed she had been struck by his own tone.
"I've had promotion and you must congratulate me. They're sending me out as minister to a little hot hole in Central America—six thousand miles away. I shall have to go rather soon."
"Oh I'm so glad!" Lady Agnes breathed. Still she paused at the foot of the stair and still she gazed.
"How very delightful—it will lead straight off to all sorts of other good things!" Grace a little coarsely commented.
"Oh I'm crawling up—I'm an excellency," Peter laughed.