“Now you are having an honour conferred on you.”
In reply to it, I rose to my feet, and I think some of the crossness in my heart got into my face.
“Thank you,” I said, “but I have only a moment to give you. My brother is dangerously ill at home, and I must go back as soon as possible.”
Lady Ursula slightly raised her delicate brows.
I think she scarcely heard what I said about my brother.
“Do sit down,” she said, “I won’t keep you a moment. What a queer girl you are! but very refreshing to meet. Now do sit down. You can’t go, you know, until you get your ring. Miss Lindley, I must confide my story to you. I am engaged.”
I bowed my head very slightly.
“To Captain Rupert Valentine. He is in the Guards. Would you like to see his photograph?”
I murmured something. Lady Ursula stretched out her hand to a table which stood near, took up a morocco case, which she opened, and showed me the dark, slightly supercilious face of a handsome man of about thirty.
“Don’t you admire his expression?” she said. “Isn’t it firm? Doesn’t he look like the sort of hero a girl would be proud to obey?”