' Then the two girls were convinced that
the meeting was accidental; but Miss Cass still had her doubts.
Conversation became at once very difficult. Tregear seated himself
near, but not very near, to Lady Mary, and made some attempt to
talk to both the girls at once. Lady Mabel plainly showed that she
was not at her ease;--whereas Mary seemed to be stricken dumb by
the presence of her lover. Silverbridge was so much annoyed by a
feeling that this interview was a treason to his father, that he
sat cudgelling his brain to think how he should bring it to an
end. Miss Cassewary was dumb-founded by the occasion. She was the
one elder in the company who ought to see that no wrong was
committed. She was not directly responsible to the Duke of Omnium,
but she was thoroughly permeated by a feeling that it was her duty
to take care that there should be no clandestine love meetings in
Lord Grex's house. At last Silverbridge jumped up from his chair.
'Upon my word, Tregear, I think you had better go,' said he.
'So do I,' said Miss Cassewary. 'If it is an accident--'
'Of course it is an accident,' said Tregear angrily,--looking round
at Mary, who blushed up to her eyes.
Pages:
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406