"My father used to say that the secret of happiness is never to look beyond the present hour."
"A philosopher!" murmured Deerehurst.
"I should say a bold man." Barnard looked from the old nobleman to his hostess.
But almost as he spoke, the name of Sir Walter Gore was announced, and Lady Frances looked sharply towards the door.
With a quiet, unembarrassed bearing, Gore crossed the salon.
As he approached the little group, Lady Frances stepped towards him with outstretched hands.
"How nice of you!" she said softly. "I began to fear you had forgotten about to-night."
He took her hand calmly.
"But I had promised to come," he said simply.
And at the words, his eyes turned involuntarily towards Clodagh.