"Not a word to her!" he cried, starting up; "remember, I told you in confidence—though why I was such a fool—"
"Am I likely to forget?" said Sarah; "and you will see one day whether you were a fool to tell me." She said to herself, despairingly, that the stupidity of mankind was almost past praying for. As the doctor opened the door for Sarah, Lady Mary herself walked into the room.
She had removed all traces of tears from her face, and, though she was still very pale, she was quite composed, and ready to smile at them both.
"Were you coming to fetch me?" she said, taking Sarah's arm affectionately. "Dr. Blundell, I am afraid luncheon will be terribly late. The servants have all gone off their heads in the confusion, as was to be expected. The noise and the welcome upset me so that I dared not go out on the terrace again. Ash has just been to tell me it's all over, and that Peter made a capital speech; quite as good as Mr. John's, he said; but that is hardly a compliment to our K.C.," she laughed. "I'm afraid Ash is prejudiced."
"Ash was doing the honours with all his might," said the doctor, gruffly; "handing round cider by the hogshead. Hallo! the speeches must be really all over," he said, for, above vociferous cheering, the strains of the National Anthem could just be discerned.
Peter came striding across the terrace, and looked in at the open window.
"Are you better again, mother?" he called. "Could you come out now?
They've done at last, but they're calling for you."
"Yes, yes; I'm quite ready. I won't be so silly again," said Lady
Mary.
But Peter did not listen. "Why—" he said, and stopped short.
"Surely you haven't forgotten Sarah," said Lady Mary, laughing—"your little playmate Sarah? But perhaps I ought to say Miss Hewel now."