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Lord Doningdale had the two characteristics of a high-bred gentleman of the old school respect for birth and respect for talent; he was, therefore, more than ordinarily courteous to Ernest, and pressed him to stay some days with so much cordiality, that Maltravers could not but assent. His travelling toilet was scanty, but Maltravers thought little of dress. "It is the soul that sees.
Thus muttering, Lord Doningdale walked, or rather marched, to and fro the room, with his hands in his coat pockets, and his whip sticking perpendicularly out of the right one. Just at this moment the waiter came to announce that his lordship's groom was without, and desired much to see him.
"Herbert has gone home to order the carriage, and Lord Doningdale has disappeared, I scarce know whither. You do not, I trust, feel the worse for the rain?" "No," said Valerie. "Shall you have any commands in London?" asked Maltravers; "I return to town to-morrow." "So soon!" and Valerie sighed. "Ah!" she added, after a pause, "we shall not meet again for years, perhaps.
"You reside much in the country, I am sure, my lord," said Maltravers. "Yes," replied Lord Doningdale, with a pensive air, "this place is greatly endeared to me. Here his Majesty Louis XVIII., when in England, honoured me with an annual visit.
She looked at him with an admiring and grateful gaze, and then said, in a calm but low voice, "Ernest, I understand you; yes, your friendship is dearer to me than love." At this time they heard the voice of Lord Doningdale on the stairs. Valerie turned away. Maltravers, as he rose, extended his hand; she pressed it warmly, and the spell was broken, the temptation conquered, the ordeal passed.
His Majesty asked him once to dinner, and, when he took leave, said to him, 'We are happy, Lord Doningdale, to have thus requited our obligations to your lordship. Lord Doningdale went back in dudgeon, yet he still boasts of his /souvenirs/, poor man." "Princes are not grateful, neither are republics," said Maltravers. "Ah, who is grateful," rejoined Valerie, "except a dog and a woman?"
From the window, a sad and straining eye gazed upon the gayer equipage of the peer that eye which Maltravers would have given his whole fortune to meet again. But he did not look up; and Alice Darvil turned away, and her fate was fixed! "Strange fits of passion I have known. And I will dare to tell." " * The food of hope Is meditated action." MALTRAVERS left Doningdale the next day.
Maltravers found himself ushered into a vast dressing-room, and was informed, by a French valet, that in the country Lord Doningdale dined at six the first bell would ring in a few minutes. While the valet was speaking, Lord Doningdale himself entered the room.
Meanwhile, Lord Doningdale and his guests were shown into the room next to that tenanted by the lady. Properly speaking, both the rooms made one long apartment for balls and county meetings, and the division was formed by a thin partition, removable at pleasure.
While Lord Doningdale entered the room, the carriage, with Herbert in it, drove to the door. In a few minutes the little party were within the vehicle. As they drove away, the hostlers were harnessing the horses to the dark green travelling-carriage.
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