'Oh no, thank you! at least, shall I find it again?' said the frightened Lucy, looking in front of her at the vast hall, with its tall lamps and statues and innumerable doors.
'It shall be sent upstairs for you, Madam,' said the magnificent person gravely, and, as Lucy thought, severely.
She submitted, and looked round for David. Oh, where was he?
'This is a fine hall, isn't it?' said the lady in green beside her. 'Bad period—but good of its kind. What on earth do they spoil it for with those shocking modern portraits?'
Such assurance—combined with such garments—in such a house—it was nothing short of a miracle!
CHAPTER III
'Now, Lavinia, do be kind to young Mrs. Grieve. She is evidently as shy as she can be.'
So spoke Lord Driffield, with some annoyance in his voice, as he looked into his wife's room after dressing for dinner.
'I suppose she can amuse herself like other people,' said Lady Driffield. She was standing by the fire warming a satin-shoed foot. 'I have told Williams to leave all the houses open to-morrow. And there's church, and the pictures. The Danbys and the rest of us are going over to Lady Herbart's for tea.'
A cloud came over Lord Driffield's face. He made some impatient exclamation, which was muffled by his white beard and moustache, and walked back to his own room.