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Ladywell, in rising to go to him, saw that Neigh's attention was engrossed by something he held in his hand. It was his pocket-book, and Neigh was looking at a few loose flower-petals which had been placed between the pages. When Ladywell came forward Neigh looked up, started, and closed the book quickly, so that some of the petals fluttered to the ground between the two men.
'But, Berta, you are not going to marry any stranger who may turn up? said Picotee, who had creeping sensations of dread when Ethelberta talked like this. 'I had no such intention. But, having once put my hand to the plough, how shall I turn back? 'You might marry Mr. Ladywell, said Picotee, who preferred to look at things in the concrete.
'Badly used? said Neigh mechanically, and wondering all the time if Ladywell had been informed that Ethelberta was to be one of the party to- day. 'Well, I ought not to talk like that, said Ladywell, adopting a lighter tone. 'All is fair in courtship, I suppose, now as ever. Indeed, I mean to put a good face upon it: if I am beaten, I am.
'Yes, she said, 'a false report is in circulation. I am not yet engaged to be married to any one, if that is your meaning. Ladywell looked cheerful at this frank answer, and said tentatively, 'Am I forgotten? 'No; you are exactly as you always were in my mind. 'Then I have been cruelly deceived. I was guided too much by appearances, and they were very delusive.
They had been standing just by the drawing-room door, and Christopher turned back into the room with no very satisfactory countenance. It was very odd, he thought, that she should go down to Ladywell in that mysterious manner, when he might have been admitted to where they were talking without any trouble at all.
On entering the quarters of his friend he found him seated at a table whereon writing materials were strewn. They shook hands in silence, but the meaning in their looks was enough. 'Just let me write a note, Ladywell, and I'm your man, said Neigh then, with the freedom of an old acquaintance. 'I was going to do the same thing, said Ladywell.
Neigh, who had been one of the last to emerge. The two were going in the same direction, and they walked a short distance together. 'Has anything serious happened? said Neigh, noticing an abstraction in his companion. 'You don't seem in your usual mood to-night. 'O, it is only that affair between us, said Ladywell. 'Affair? Between you and whom? 'Her and myself, of course.
Ladywell, and he is waiting. 'Not for me? 'Yes, indeed. I thought he seemed so anxious, under a sort of assumed calmness, that I recommended him to remain till you came in. 'Goodness, aunt; why did you? Ethelberta said, and thought how much her mother's sister resembled her mother in doings of that sort. 'I thought he had some good reason for seeing you. Are these men intruders, then?
She was absolutely unconscious, and stayed with her face up and lips parted like a little child of six. 'She well may! the thing is a triumph. That fellow Ladywell is here, I believe yes, it is he, busily talking to the man on his right. If I were a woman I would rather go donkey-driving than stick myself up there, for gaping fops to quiz and say what they like about!
'Well, I am always ready to yield to a friend's arguments. . . . A sneaking scamp, that's what he is. Why does he not show himself? 'Don't you really know who he is? said Neigh, in a pronounced and exceptional tone, on purpose to give Ladywell a chance of suspecting, for the position was getting awkward.
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