“Lady Randal,” the young man said, sternly, as he saw Brownie’s delicate face flush painfully at these insinuations, “at any other time I should deem your words an unpardonable insult, for I knew no more than yourself where Miss Douglas was at that time; but if you will have the kindness to notify your guests that we wish to see them, that matter, as well as some others, will soon be satisfactorily explained.”
Lady Randal colored with displeasure at his words, but she rang the bell, and sent the servant, who appeared, to tell Isabel and her mother that there were callers for them. At Adrian’s request she did not send their names, as he feared they might refuse to see them.
The Coolidges soon presented themselves in the drawing-room, and Sir Charles came with them.
He greeted the guests somewhat coolly, for he could not forget the slight his betrothed had received that evening in London at Manchester House.
Isabel and her mother felt a sudden shock run through all their frame when they saw who were present, but the latter at once resolved to carry a high hand and fight the battle out bravely to the end.
Lord Dunforth and Adrian arose and bowed coldly as they entered, while Brownie inclined her head the merest trifle in the world; but Isabel, ignoring her manner, began gushingly, thinking to take their castle by storm:
“Really, Mrs. Dredmond, you have given us all a terrible fright, but I am rejoiced to find that nothing worse than being married has happened to you. I little thought I should have to tender my congratulations first,” she concluded, turning with a simper to Adrian.
“Yes,” put in her mother, before any one else could speak, “I suppose we shall be obliged to pardon you for causing us all so much terror, since your strange disappearance has terminated so happily.”
Brownie could endure their insolence no longer.
“We will waive that topic, if you please,” she said, icily, “until we have settled a little matter of business. Mrs. Coolidge, I desire to relieve you of a certain casket, with its contents, which belongs to me, and which you have in your possession.”