"They are upstairs, madam," he answered, remaining standing by the spinet.
"Well, I can wait." She moved slowly, trailing her heavy dress and revealing the fragile grace of her figure effectively and obviously; her hat was well tilted off her face, in her powdered hair was a knot of pink ribbon, and on her left cheek a black patch.
"Am I much changed?" she asked, and her eyes were slightly insolent.
"Yes," said Marius in a troubled way. "I think you have changed, madam."
She sank lightly into the gold chair by Susannah's little work-table.
"Think! You know!" she cried; "but you are very much the same, Captain Lyndwood."
He coloured furiously, and looked sternly at the page of music lying before him on the spinet.
"You must excuse me, madam," he said formally, "that I have not yet waited on you. I am intending to visit Lyndwood House to-morrow."
The Countess smiled.
"I heard of your return, from the Gazette; why did you not write to me?"