'
'So much is thrown upon him now,' said Lady Cantrip.
Lady Mabel was surprised by the invitation, but she was not slow
to accept it. 'Papa will be here and will be so glad to meet you.'
Lady Mary had said. Why should the Duke of Omnium wish to meet
her? 'Silverbridge will be there too.' Mary had gone on to say.
'It is just a family party. Papa, you know, is not going anywhere;
nor am I.' By all this Lady Mabel's thoughts were much stirred,
and her bosom somewhat moved. And Silverbridge was also moved by
it. Of course he could not but remember that he had pledged
himself to his father to ask Lady Mabel to be his wife. He had
faltered since. She had been, he thought, unkind to him, or at any
rate indifferent. He had surely said enough to her to make her
know what he meant; and yet she had taken no trouble to meet him
half way. And then Isabel Boncassen had intervened. Now he was
asked to dinner in a most unusual manner!
Of all the guests invited Lord Popplecourt was perhaps the least
disturbed. He was quite alive to the honour of being noticed by
the Duke of Omnium, and alive also to the flattering courtesy
shown to him by Lady Cantrip.
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