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He enjoys himself without being dissipated, and he is perfectly natural. He is rather boyish perhaps, but then he is young. He is not afraid to laugh, and I like the way he enters into everything. And I think I like his persistence." "As his wife," Lady Caroom said, "you would have immense opportunities for doing good.
Perhaps, I am not sure, but I think it is very likely I might be able to find a husband for her." "You dear man," Lady Caroom murmured. "I should rely upon your taste and judgment so thoroughly." There was a discreet knock at the door. A servant entered with a card. Arranmore took it up, and retained it in his fingers. "Tell Mr. Brooks," he said, "that I will be with him in a moment.
Brooks took it back into the great inner hall, where Lord Arranmore had started another game of billiards with Lady Caroom. "Miss Scott assured me that her business with you is private," he announced. "She has written this note." Lord Arranmore laid his cue deliberately aside and broke the seal.
Lady Caroom had seen him look like it once before, and she sighed. Nevertheless, she persevered. "For nearly twenty years," she said, "you disappeared. You were reported at different times to be in every quarter of the earth, from Zambesia to Pekin. But no one knew, and, of course, in a season or two you were forgotten. I always wondered, I am wondering now, where were you?
And, after all, why not? The thoroughly selfish man is the only person logically who has the slightest chance of happiness." "It is true," Molyneux murmured. "Delightfully true." "Lord Arranmore is always either cynical or paradoxical," Sybil Caroom declared. "He really says the most unpleasant things with the greatest appearance of truth of any man I know."
"Not only that," he said, "but the Government have to-day shown themselves possessed of a penetration and appreciation of mind for which I for one scarcely gave them credit. They have made me a peer." She looked at him with an amused smile. "They make judges and peers for two reasons" she remarked. "That, Lady Caroom, is unkind," he said.
Lady Caroom watched them till they were out of sight, then she found herself looking steadfastly across the valley to the dark belt of pine-clad hills beyond. She could see nothing very clearly, and there was a little choking in her throat. They were both there, father and son.
"I will come," Sybil declared, putting down her book. "And I," Molyneux joined in. "Hennibul can play our best ball." Lady Caroom and her host were left alone. He came over to her side. "What can I do to entertain your ladyship?" he asked, lightly. "Will you play billiards, walk or drive? There is an hour before lunch which must be charmed away." "I am not energetic," she declared.
"I have never believed," he said, "that Sybil would be likely to care for me. I can scarcely believe it now." Lady Caroom hesitated. "In any case," she said, "could you ask her to marry you? You must see that as things are it would be impossible!" "Impossible!" he muttered. "Impossible!" "Of course," she answered, briskly. "You must be a man of the world enough to know that.
The other letter was from Lady Caroom. "I want to be the first to tell you of Sybil's engagement to the Duke of Atherstone, which took place this afternoon. He has been a very persistent suitor, and he is a great favourite, I think, deservedly, with every one. He will, I am sure, make her very happy. "I understand that you are still in London. You must find this weather very oppressive.
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