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"Ay, I'll tell him. 'Pon rep., sweetheart, I can find it in me to besorry for him!"
"Oh, he will not mind for long," she said philosophically. "He loves so_easily_, you see! But you, Dick--why did you go so often--so _very_often to see Mrs. Fanshawe?"
His face grew solemn.
"She knew--Jack--in Vienna--I--I wanted to hear all she could tell me ofhim--I could think of nothing else."
"Oh, Dicky! How--how wickedly foolish I have been! And 'twas that thatmade you so cold--and I thought--oh, dear!"
He drew her head down on to his shoulder again.
"My poor love! Why, 'tis the kindest lady imaginable, but as to lovingher--!" He kissed her hand lingeringly. "I love--and have alwaysloved--a far different being: a naughty, wilful, captivating littleperson, who--"
Lady Lavinia clasped her arms about his neck.
"You make me feel so very, very dreadful! I have indeed beennaughty--I--"
"And you'll be so many times again," he told her, laughing.
"No, no! I--will--try to be good!"
"I do not want you good!" Richard assured her. "I want you to be yourown dear self!" ... Lady Lavinia disengaged herself with a contentedlittle sigh, and stood up.
"How charming it is to be happy again, to be sure!" she remarkednaively. "To think that only half an hour ago I was wishing to be dead!"She went over to the glass and straightened her hair.
Richard looked at her rather anxiously.
"Lavinia--you--you quite understand, I am going to tell everyone thetruth--next Friday?" he asked.
"Yes, I do, of course--'tis dreadfully disagreeable of you, but Isuppose you will do it. I do _hope_ people will not refuse to recogniseus, though."
"No one would ever refuse to recognise you, dearest."
She brightened.
"Do you really think so? Well, perhaps after all, 'twill not be so_very_ horrid. And--and you will like to have Jack again, won't you?Yes--I knew you would. Oh, 'twill all be quite comfortable after alittle while, I make no doubt!"
* * * * *
His Grace of Andover arose betimes, and early sallied forth into thestreet. He called a chair, and drove to an address in the Strand, wherelodged a certain Colonel Shepherd. Half-an-hour did he spend with theColonel, and when he at length emerged from the house the curl of hislip betokened satisfaction. He did not at once hail a chair, but walkedalong in the direction of St. James's, entering the park in companywith one Dare, who, seven years before, had given a certain memorablecard-party.
Dare was pleasantly intrigued over Richard's latest oddity.
"Have you an idea what 'tis about, Belmanoir?" he inquired. "Has hewritten you to come as well?"
"I believe I did receive some communication from Carstares; yes--Iremember, Andrew brought it."
"Well, what does it mean? Fortescue is bidden, and Davenant. 'Tis verycurious."
"My dear Dare, I am not in Richard's confidence. We shall doubtless hearall that there is to hear at the given time. Mysteries do not inter
estme. But 'twill be a pleasant reunion.... Fortescue and Davenant, yousay? Strange! I have heard that Evans and Milward have also receivedtheir sum--invitations. It should be most entertaining."
"'Tis prodigious curious," repeated Dare. "No one can imagine what 'tisall about!"
"Ah?" His Grace's thin lips twitched.
Midway through the afternoon he repaired to Wyncham House and wasushered into the library.
