He smiled, lifted his hat, and went his way.
CHAPTER XXXI.
LUIGI’S ESCAPADE
Mr. Kinaby’s dog-cart, now that the land-steward himself was almost wholly confined to the house, was at the service of Everard Lisle, and he generally made use of it, if the weather happened to be bad, when he was invited to dine at the Chase, thereby saving himself a long wet tramp there and back through the park.
To-day the fine forenoon had degenerated into a wet evening, and when Lisle had given his horse and trap into charge of the stable help and, after divesting himself of his wet mackintosh, had made his way to the drawing-room, he found there the Baronet, Lady Pell and Miss Thursby. Sir Gilbert, in his abrupt fashion, at once proceeded to introduce him to the ladies. After bowing to her ladyship, Everard held out his hand to Ethel, saying as he did so: “I have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Thursby on more than one occasion before to-day; in point of fact, we happen to come from the same town, St. Oswyth’s.”
“And a very charming, old-fashioned town it is,” said her ladyship; “and some of the people, whose acquaintance I made there”—with a significant glance at Ethel—“I found to be quite as nice as the place.”
At this moment Trant entered the room with the announcement that dinner was served. “That’s all very well,” said Sir Gilbert testily, “but what has become of my grandson? Where is Mr. Lewis? Send up to his room at once, Trant, and tell him that dinner is waiting.” Then turning to Lady Pell, he added: “I hate unpunctuality, especially at meal-times. It would serve the young dog right to make him go without his dinner.”
“Is he often behind time?” queried her ladyship.
“No, I can’t say that he is. He knows that I wouldn’t put up with it.”
“Then you can afford, for once in a way, to overlook his remissness. Besides, it would be unfair to blame him before hearing what he may have to say for himself.”
“Oh, he’ll have some plausible excuse or other, I don’t doubt,” growled Sir Gilbert. “You would be clever to catch him without one.”