That no doubt would be straight,--and
efficacious. The Duke would not have allowed a boy of his to be a
debtor to Lord Percival for a day, let the debt have been
contracted how it might. But Gerald had declared against this
course,--and Silverbridge himself would have been most unwilling to
adopt it. How could he have told that story to the Duke, while
there was that other infinitely more important story of his own,
which must be told at once?
In the midst of all these troubles he went down to dinner. 'Lady
Mabel,' said the Duke, 'tells me that you two have been to see Sir
Guy's look-out.'
She was standing close to the Duke and whispered a word into his
ear. 'You said you would call me Mabel.'
'Yes sir,' said Silverbridge, 'and I have made up my mind that Sir
Guy never stayed there very long in winter. It was awfully cold.'
'I had furs on,' said Mabel. 'What a lovely spot it is, even in
this weather.' Then dinner was announced. She had not been cold.
She could still feel the tingling of her blood as she had implored
him to love her.
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