"Do you not take anything to eat?" asked Blanche, in short and sullen tones, which he was in too great a hurry to notice.
"No: or I should lose the train."
He caught her to him. Blanche turned her face away.
"You silly child! you are cross with me for leaving you. My dear, believe me, I could not help it. Charley is coming up to dine with you this evening."
Leaving his kisses on her lips, but getting none in return, Lord Level went out to the cab. As it drove away, there came up to the door a railway luggage van. The lost box had arrived from Paris. Timms knelt down with extra fervour that night to offer up her thanksgivings.
Lord Level had snatched a moment to look in upon me, and ask me to dine with Blanche that evening.
"She is not pleased at being left alone," he said; "but I am obliged to run down to Marshdale. And, Charley, she saw something about Tom in the paper this morning: I had to turn it off in the best way I could: so be cautious if she mentions it to you."
I had meant to look again after Tom Heriot that evening, but could not refuse this. Blanche was unusually silent throughout dinner.
"Is anything the matter, Blanche?" I asked her, when we were in the drawing-room.