As he took her hand, he smiled, gratified by her concern.
"Not at all, my dear!" he responded—"not at all! I have had an hour's excursion with Mr. Tomes. I assure you I had no idea that the bye-ways of Venice were so interesting."
"All Venice is heavenly."
Clodagh's glance wandered across the terrace to the canal, radiant in the early light.
Milbanke raised his head, arrested by the fervour of her tone.
"Then you—you enjoyed yourself last night?" he ventured with unusual penetration.
"Oh, so much!" She turned to him with a glowing smile that betrayed a warm desire for universal confidence and sympathy. "So much! Mr. Barnard and the tall, dark-haired boy that you met last evening took me round the canals in the most beautiful gondola belonging to Lord Deerehurst. We saw all the interesting people from the hotels, and heard the music; and afterwards Mr. Barnard brought me to the Palazzo Ugochini and introduced me to Lady Frances Hope. She was charmingly kind and hospitable; and made me promise to go again to-night—and to bring you."
Milbanke's face fell.
"But, my dear——" he began deprecatingly.
"Oh, you must come!—you must! Lady Frances Hope feels sure she has met you before. You must come!"