‘People have no right to ask one to play whist in a room where there is such a noise going on,’ said the first speaker.
‘Did I hear you say whist?’ inquired the lady sarcastically.
Mr. Barclay passed on to the little group formed by his host and the Misses Robertson.
‘How are you, Barclay?’ said the sailor, looking up from his chair, and reflecting that, though the lawyer was more than a dozen years his junior, and had double as many legs as himself, he would not care to change places with him. He was a man of strong prejudices.
‘I have not had the pleasure of meeting you since our afternoon together at Whanland,’ said Barclay, pausing before the sofa with a bow which was as like Gilbert’s as he could make it.
‘We go out very little, sir,’ said Miss Hersey.
‘Speid will be a great acquisition,’ continued Barclay; ‘we all feel the want of a few smart young fellows to wake us up, don’t we, Miss Robertson?’
‘We like our cousin particularly,’ said Miss Hersey; ‘it has been a great pleasure to welcome him back.’
Miss Caroline’s lips moved almost in unison with her sister’s, but she said nothing and sat still, radiating an indiscriminate pleasure in her surroundings. She enjoyed a party.
‘That must be another arrival even later than myself,’ remarked the lawyer, as a vehicle was heard to draw up in the street outside. ‘I understand that you expect Lady Eliza Lamont; if so, that is likely to be her carriage.’