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"Take this to Eaton Square," she said, naming the number of the house. "And give it to Mr. Ulford yourself. Go in a hansom. When you have given Mr. Ulford the note come straight back in the hansom and let me know. After that you can go to bed. Do you understand?" "Yes, my lady." The man went out. Lady Holme stood up to give him the note. She remained standing after he had gone.
She fancied that there had been a scene of some kind between them, and she guessed that Fritz had been hopelessly worsted in it and was very sorry for himself. There was a beaten look in his face, a very different look from that which had startled her when he came into her room after thrashing Leo Ulford.
One was to Lady Brayley and was charmingly apologetic, saying that the confusion was entirely owing to Fritz's muddle-headedness, and that she was in despair at her misfortune which was almost literally true. The other was to Sir Donald Ulford, begging him to join them in their box on the first, and asking whether it was possible to persuade Mr. and Mrs. Leo Ulford to come with him.
She was positive that Leo Ulford was in the cab which had just stopped, and it was too late now to prevent him from entering the house. Lord Holme had got up from his chair and stood facing her. He looked quite pleasant. She thought of the change that would come into his face in a moment and turned cold. "Don't cut up so deuced rough," he said; "I'll go and lock up." So he had forgotten.
She did not glance out of the windows, or notice the passing crowds. In the silence and darkness of her own soul she was trying not to feel, trying to think. A longing to be incautious, to do something startling, desperate, came to her. It was evident that Mrs. Ulford had been complaining to Sir Donald about his son's conduct. With whom? Lady Holme could not doubt that it was with herself.
Now she went onward and she felt a new force within her, a force that would not condescend to pettiness, to any groping in the mud. Lord Holme was puzzled. He felt the change in his wife, but did not understand it. Since the fracas with Leo Ulford their relations had slightly altered. Vaguely, confusedly, he was conscious of being pitied, yes, surely pitied by his wife.
I should like to know her." "Yours isn't the voice to talk down a trumpet," said Leo Ulford, with a sudden air of surliness. "I should like to know her now I know you and your father." At the mention of his father Leo Ulford's discontented expression increased. "My father's a rotter," he said. "Never cared for anything. No shot to speak of. He can sit on a horse all right.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand," said Lady Holme, preserving a quiet air of pupilage. "But perhaps it's better I shouldn't. Anyhow, I am quite sure Miss Schley's mother will be worthy of her daughter." "You may bet your bottom dollar on that. She'll be what they call 'a sootable marmar. I must get my wife to shoot a card on her." "I hope you'll introduce me to Mrs. Ulford.
A quick step was audible on the stairs, the door was opened, and a broad, middle-sized young man, with red hair, a huge red moustache and fierce red-brown eyes, entered swiftly with an air of ruthless determination. "I came, but I shall be devilish bad company to-night," he said at once, looking at Sir Donald. "We'll cheer you up. Let me introduce you to Sir Donald Ulford Mr. Rupert Carey."
Lady Holme could see from where she stood that he was in a jovial and audacious mood. The dinner to Sir Jacob Rowley had evidently been well cooked and gay. Fritz had the satisfied and rather larky air of a man who has been having one good time and intends to have another. She glanced into the drawing-rooms. They were crammed. She saw in the distance Lady Cardington talking to Sir Donald Ulford.
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