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The gentry lingered and looked at each other, as if they were an assembly of poachers gathering for an expedition, and then Lord St. Aldegonde, tall, fair, and languid, said to Lothair, "do you smoke?" "No!" "I should have thought Bertram would have seduced you by this time. Then let us try. Montairy will give you one of his cigarettes, so mild that his wife never finds him out."
The duchess and her daughters, Lady Agramont, and Mrs. Ardenne, were among the faithful; but what encouraged and gratified the bishop was, that the laymen, on whom he less relied, were numerously represented. The lord-lieutenant, Lord Carisbrooke, Lord Montairy, Bertram, and Hugo Bohun accompanied Lothair to the altar. After the celebration, Lothair retired to his private apartments.
"And I love it, too, and no other place," she replied; "and I should be quite happy if I never left it." Lord Montairy was passionately devoted to croquet. He flattered himself that he was the most accomplished male performer existing. He would have thought absolutely the most accomplished, were it not for the unrivalled feats of Lady Montairy. She was the queen of croquet.
Aldegonde and Victoria Montairy, who had just arrived, came in to give her a rapid embrace while their own toilets were unpacking. "Granville, has come, mamma; I did not think that he would till the last moment. He said he was so afraid of being bored. There is a large party by this train; the St. Jeromes, Bertram, Mr. Bohun, Lord Carisbrooke, and some others we do not know."
When the ladies had retired to the duchess's drawing-room, all the married daughters clustered round their mother. "Do you know, mamma, we all think him very, good-looking," said the youngest married daughter, the wife of the listless and handsome St. Aldegonde. "And not at all shy," said Lady Montairy, "though reserved." "I admire deep-blue eyes with dark lashes," said the duchess.
Whereas, if he would remain a little longer, as the duke expected and also the duchess, Bertram would go with him anywhere he liked, and do any thing he chose. So Lothair remained. In the evening, seated by Lady Montairy, Lothair observed on her sister's singing, and said, "I never heard any of our great singers, but I cannot believe there is a finer voice in existence."
The duchess was telling us about you at breakfast." "Go in and see them," said the duke, "there is a large party at luncheon; Augusta Montairy is there. Bertram and I are obliged to go to Lincoln's Inn, something about his election." But Lothair murmured thanks and declined. "What are you going to do with yourself to-day?" said the duke.
"I will do all I can, Granville." "It is not French, it is Moorish; it is called the Tangerine," said Theodora to her surrounding votaries. "You begin with a circle." "But how are we to dance without the music?" said Lady Montairy. "Ah! I wish I had known this," said Theodora, "before dinner, and I think I could have dotted down something that would have helped us.
Notwithstanding the decision of Lady Montairy, Lothair was scarcely free from embarrassment when he rejoined the ladies; and was so afraid of standing alone, or talking only to men, that he was almost on the point of finding refuge in his dinner-companions, had not he instinctively felt that this would have been a social blunder.
"I shall never forget your singing at Brentham," he said; "at first I thought it might be as Lady Montairy said, because I was not used to fine singing; but I heard the Venusina the other day, and I prefer your voice and style." "Have you heard the Venusina?" said Lady Corisande, with animation; "I know nothing that I look forward to with more interest.
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