[p 158]
XIV
It was the paralysed Countess who spoke. She had managed to partly raise herself on her couch, and her face expressed positive terror. Her husband hurried to her side,—and, with a curiously cynical smile on his lips, Rimânez rose from the piano. Miss Charlotte, who had sat rigidly upright and silent for some time, hastened to attend upon her sister, but Lady Elton was singularly excited, and appeared to have gained a sudden access of unnatural vigour.
“Go away,—I’m not ill,”—she said impatiently—“I feel better,—much better than I have done for months. The music does me good.” And addressing her husband, she added—“Ask your friend to come and sit here by me,—I want to talk to him. He has a magnificent voice,—and—I know that song he sang,—I remember reading it—in a manuscript album—long ago. I want to know where he found it—”
Rimânez here advanced with his gentle tread and courteous bearing, and Lord Elton gave him a chair beside the invalid.
“You are working miracles on my wife,”—he said—“I have not seen her so animated for years.”
And leaving the two to talk, he crossed over to where Lady Sibyl, myself and Miss Chesney were all seated in a group, chatting more or less unrestrainedly.
“I have just been expressing the hope that you and your daughter will pay me a visit at Willowsmere, Lord Elton,” I said.
[p 159]
His brows contracted a little, but he forced a smile. “We shall be delighted,”—he mumbled—“when do you take possession?”
“As soon as it is at all feasible”—I replied—“I shall wait in town till the next Levée