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Olga Lermontof's eyes, roaming over the room, rested at last upon the face of Max Errington, and with the recollection of Diana's hesitancy at the beginning of the song a brief smile flashed across her face. "What shall I do?" Diana, who had bowed repeatedly without stemming the applause, turned to the accompanist, a little flushed with the thrill of this first public recognition of her gifts.
Possibly the chauffeur who had taken his master's instructions might have thrown some light on the subject had he so chosen. "Quite warm now?" queried Errington. Diana snuggled luxuriously into her corner. "Quite, thanks," she replied. "You're rapidly qualifying as a good Samaritan par excellence, thanks to the constant opportunities I afford you."
"Not too much for Mr. Errington, I think," exclaimed Mrs. Needham with a knowing smile. "I fancy that will be a match before the season is over. It will be a capital thing for Errington. Old Bradley is im-mensely rich, and I am sure Errington is far gone. Well, good-night, my dear Miss Payne. I am so glad to think I shall have Miss Liddell for a little while, at all events.
The tired travellers lay down on their spread-out rugs and blankets, and wishing each other a cheerful "good night," were soon fast asleep. Errington was rather restless, and lay awake for some little time, listening to the stormy discourse of the Fall; but at last his eyelids yielded to the heaviness that oppressed them, and he sank into a light slumber.
He felt sick with horror in that neighbourhood, and he moved away, and stood staring across the Serpentine. Presently Mrs. Errington called to him in a faint voice "Horace, come and give me your hand." He turned, noticed her extreme pallor, and ran up. "What's the row? Are you ill, Mater?" "No. Help me up." He put out his hand. She got up slowly. "We'll go home," he said. "You look awfully seedy."
And that's impossible! . . . Impossible!" he reiterated vehemently, as though arguing against some inner voice. "Let him rip," suggested Jerry. "Give the accused a chance!" Errington laughed more naturally. He was rapidly regaining his usual self-possession. "Jerry, you're a good pal, but a bad adviser. Get thee behind me." Steps sounded on the stairs outside. Adrienne and Mrs.
Vaguely she heard some one at the back of the house shout "Speech!" and the cry was taken up by a dozen voices, but Max only laughed and shook his head, and once more the heavy curtains fell together, shutting him and Adrienne from her sight. Mechanically Diana gathered up her wraps and prepared to leave the box. "Aren't you coming round behind to congratulate them, Mrs. Errington?"
Gueldmar entered, but did not sit down, Errington shut the door against the rain and beating spray and also remained standing. After a pause, during which the bonde seemed struggling with some inward emotion, he said resolutely "Sir Philip, you are a young man, and I am an old one. I would not willingly offend you for I like you yes!"
For a moment he was too bewildered to speak. His friend loosened him and laughed rather forcedly a slight tremble of his lips was observable under his fair moustache. "By Jove, Phil," he remarked in his usual nonchalant manner, "that was rather a narrow shave! Fortunate I happened to be there!" Errington gazed about him confusedly. "Where's Sigurd?" he asked. "Gone!
You are a remarkable woman!" Mrs. Marvelle smiled, somewhat mollified. "You see," she then condescended to explain "the whole thing is so extremely disappointing to me. I wanted Marcia Van Clupp to go in for the Errington stakes, it would have been such an excellent match, money on both sides.
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