"Good night," said his lordship again, and stepped out in the hall.
Sheridan kissed Bessie's hand, and purposely lingered over it so long that Moore shook his fist at him.
"Easy there, Sherry, easy there."
"Selfish man!" murmured Sheridan, as he followed Brooking. "Good night, Mistress Dyke."
Brummell bade good night to his hostess and joined the others in their descent as Moore, after making a feint of putting a kiss upon Bessie's hand, at the last moment transferred it to her smiling lips.
"You won't be longer than is necessary, will you, Tom?"
"I 'll not be half that long," said he, running after his guests, who were now well on their way down the first flight of stairs.
Bessie turned from the door with a rapturous sigh, only to receive a reproachful glance from Buster, who was sternly regarding her.
"Wot 'll become hof my morals hif these hindearments continyers?" thought the lad, vaguely jealous. "Hit's henuff to turn one hagin mater-ri-mony, that's wot hit his. Hi thinks Hi 'll jine a monkery."
"To Bessie," murmured the girl, kissing the poem as she drew it from her breast, little suspecting Buster's doubtful frame of mind. "Buster, you may clear away the tea-things after you have had your supper. I must go down and tell Mrs. Malone the good news."