“Quite so. I think it is an excellent idea. But please tell me—where am I to sit at dinner to-night?”
She laughed, and half blushed. She had meant this good “Captain Reid” to take herself in to dinner, having reserved a much more elderly lady for Major Reid. But somehow, as she looked into his face, an intuition came to her. She was a woman with very quick intuitions, and she could read a man’s thoughts in a flash.
“Never mind whom you were to take in,” she said. “Tell me quickly—quickly—whom you wish to sit next. Ah, there’s another ring at the bell!”
“Well, to tell you the truth, I want to take Florence Heathcote into dinner to-night. Can you manage it?”
“I certainly can, and will. Dear, beautiful Florence! No wonder you admire her. I will give directions this minute. Just sit down, won’t you, near the fire. I will go and alter the dinner-table.”
Lieutenant Reid seated himself with a smile round his lips. He had achieved his purpose.
“I thought she would help me,” was his inward reflection. “I was to take her in—poor Susie! but I am flying for higher game. ’Pon my word! the pater is right, and Florence is worth making an effort to secure. Now, it’s all right. We’ll go into the garden after dinner, and during dinner I can begin to lay my little trap for the entanglement of that gentle heart. She looked very beautiful in church to-day, but I do wish I could remember the colour of her eyes.”