Yes; Miss Boncassen was at home. The servant thought that she was
upstairs dressing. Then Silverbridge made his way without further
invitation into the drawing-room. There he remained alone for ten
minutes. At last the door opened, and Mrs Boncassen entered.
'Dear! Lord Silverbridge, who ever dreamed of seeing you? I
thought all you Parliament gentlemen were going through your
ceremonies. Isabel had a ticket and went down, and saw your
father.'
'Where is Isabel?'
'She's gone.'
'Gone! Where on earth has she gone to?' asked Silverbridge, as
though fearing lest she had been already carried off to the other
side of the Atlantic. Then Mrs Boncassen explained. Within the
last three minutes Mrs Montacute Jones had called and carried
Isabel off to the play. Mrs Jones was up in town for a week and
this had been a very old engagement. 'I hope you did not want her
particularly,' said Mrs Boncassen.
'But I did,--not particularly,' said Lord Silverbridge. The door
was opened and Mr Boncassen entered the room. 'I beg your pardon
for coming at such a time,' said the lover, 'but I did so want to
see Isabel.
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