He was for a moment embarrassed, but he stepped forward to meet
her.
"How do you do, Lady Caroom?" he said. "We are all in the shadows here,
and Mr. Molyneux is crying out for his tea."
She resumed her progress and greeted Brooks graciously. Almost at the
same moment a footman brought lamps, and the tea was served. Lady
Caroom glanced again with a sort of curious nervousness at the young man
who stood by her side.
"You are a little earlier than we expected," she remarked, seating
herself before the tea-tray. "Here comes Sybil. She is dying to
congratulate you, Mr. Brooks. Is Arranmore here?"
"We left him in the gun-room," Molyneux answered. "He is coming
directly."
Sybil Caroom, in a short skirt and a jaunty hat, came towards Brooks
with outstretched hand.
"Delightful!" she exclaimed. "I only wish that it had been nine
thousand instead of nine hundred. You deserved it."
Brooks laughed heartily.
"Well, we were satisfied to win the seat," he declared.
Molyneux leaned forward tea-cup in hand.
"Well, you deserved it," he remarked. "Our old man opened his mouth a
bit, but yours knocked him silly.
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