“Welcome to Rowton Heights,” said Rowton, taking off his hat and advancing to meet her.
She held out her hand to him, and favoured him with a frank and scrutinising glance.
“How do you do?” she said in a brisk, high voice; “and so this is the baby—come here, baby, and be introduced.”
“How do you do?” she said, in a brisk, high voice.—[Page 119.]
In some astonishment Nancy ran down the steps.
Lady Georgina gazed at her out of two dark bright eyes, which were rendered more intensely brilliant by means of her pince-nez.
“Ah!” she said, “you are a pretty, fair little girl—no wonder you bowled him over. I was curious to see what sort of a woman could take that fortress. I have known him for close on twenty years—off and on, that is—and I never yet, poke as I would, pry as I would, search as I would, discovered that he had the vestige of a heart. Where did you find it, my dear—under the fifth rib, eh?”
Nancy laughed, but without much cordiality; she did not understand this dashing dame. Rowton, however, seemed to enjoy her badinage thoroughly.
“Come in,” he said, “come in. You have arrived in the nick of time. You always were the most good-natured woman in the world, Lady Georgina, and I trust to your kind clemency for the present moment.”