"He promised to take me for a drive." She consulted the watch on her wrist. "It's past eleven now."
"I'm afraid poor Dick is rather upset. He seems to have been counting on being nominated to stand for the Rural District Council, and the imbeciles invited me instead."
"Oh, how could they?" she cried, smitten with a great pity. "How could they be so stupid and cruel? I know all about it. He told me yesterday. He must be bitterly disappointed."
Austin did not tell her of Lord Banstead's tactful explanation of the committee's action. He was a fastidious man, and did not care to soil his mind with the memory of Banstead's existence. If he had described the scene, the young man's vulgarity, his own attempt at conciliation, and Dick's passionate outburst--the course of the drama that was shaping itself might have been altered. But the stars in their courses were fighting against Dick. Austin only said:
"If we get him this appointment, it will be ample compensation, anyhow."
"Please don't say 'if,'" exclaimed Viviette, "we must get it."
"Unless Lord Overton has already found a man, which is unlikely, owing to the general suspension of business at Whitsuntide, it's practically a certainty."
"When shall we know?"
"My letter's written and is waiting for the post. If he replies by return we shall hear the day after to-morrow."
"That is such a long time to wait. Do you know what to-morrow is?"