But observing a look of gentle reminder on the face of Miss Vyse, who intended Sir Ralph to see it too, she added—
“I beg your pardon, Grandmamma, for calling it horrible, but Florence and I both think—”
“Never mind what we both think, Lotty,” interrupted Miss Vyse, smilingly. “Sybil, dear, will you have some or this?”
Little Sybil was sitting quietly by her uncle; her favourite place, for though frightened of him, she was always pleased to be near him. He stroked her smooth, soft hair, and she looked up in his face with a smile.
“Are you going up the mountain to-day, Uncle Ralph?” he asked.
“Not to-day exactly, but very early to-morrow,” he replied.
“What you going to do early to-morrow?” asked Lady Severn, who had not heard Sybil’s question.
“I am going to ascend the ‘Pic noir’,” he answered. “I think I mentioned it some days ago. There is a whole party going; rather more than I care about, but poor Price and Vladimir Nodouroff were very anxious for me to join them. We dine at the Lion d’Or today, and start this evening, if fine. I shall not be back till the day after to-morrow, but I suppose that will make no difference to you?”
“Oh, dear no,” his mother, “but by-the-by, do not stay away longer than that. I want you on Friday to take us all to Berlet. It is rather too far to go without a gentleman, but the view, I hear, is lovely.”
“I shall be very glad to take you,” said Ralph, quite pleased at Lady Severn’s wish for his company; “you must all come. The children, too, may they not?”