“Yes.”
“Then let us get up and speak to her. Come.”
“You must excuse me, Mrs. Leith Fairfax. I have distinctly given her my word that I will not intrude upon her again.”
“Dont be so foolish.”
Douglas’s face clouded. “You are privileged to say so,” he said.
“Not at all,” said Mrs. Fairfax, frightened. “But when I think of Marian, I feel like an old woman, and venture to remonstrate with all the presumption of age. I beg your pardon.”
He bowed. Then Marian joined them, and Mrs. Fairfax again gave tongue.
“Where have you been?” she cried. “You vanished from my side like a sprite. I have been searching for you ever since.”
“I have been looking at the pictures, of course. I am so glad you have come back, Sholto. I think you might have made time to pay us a visit before this. You look so strong and well! Your beard is a great improvement. Have you met Nelly?”
“I think we saw her at some distance,” said Douglas. “I have not been speaking to her.”
“How did you enjoy yourself while you were away?”
“As best I could.”
“You look as if you had succeeded very fairly. What o’clock is it?
Remember that we have to meet Nelly at the turnstiles at six.”
“It is five minutes to six now, Miss Lind.”
“Thank you, Mr. Douglas. We had better go, I think.”
As they left the room, Mrs. Fairfax purposely lingered behind them.
“Am I right in concluding that you are as frivolous as ever, Marian?” he said.
“Quite,” she replied. “To-day especially so. I am very happy to-day.”
“May I ask why?”
“Something has happened. I will tell you what it is some day perhaps, but not now. Something that realizes a romantic dream of mine. The dream has been hovering vaguely about me for nearly two years; but I never ventured to teach myself exactly what it was until to-day.”
“Realized here? in the Academy?”
“It was foreshadowed — promised, at home this morning; but it was realized here.”
“Did you know beforehand that I was coming?”
“Not until to-day. Mrs. Leith Fairfax said that you would most likely be here.”
“And you are happy?”
“So much so that I cannot help talking about my happiness to you, who are the very last person — as you will admit when everything is explained — to whom I should unlock my lips on the subject.”
“And why? Am I not interested in your happiness?”
“I suppose so. I hope so. But when you learn the truth, you will be more astonished than gratified.”
“I dare swear that you are mistaken. Is this dream of yours an affair of the heart?”
“Now you are beginning to ask questions.”
“Well, I will ask no more at present. But if you fear that my long absence has rendered me indifferent in the least degree to your happiness, you do me a great injustice.”
“Well, you were not in a very good humor with me when you went away.”
“I will forget that if you wish me to.”
“I do wish you to forget it. And you forgive me?”
“Most assuredly.”
“Then we are the best friends in the world again. This is a great deal better than meeting and pretending to ignore the very thing of which our minds are full. You will not delay visiting us any longer now, I hope.”
“I will call on your father tomorrow morning. May I?”
“He is out of town until Monday. He will be delighted to see you then. He has been talking to me about you a great deal of late. But if you want to see him in the morning you had better go to the club. I will write to him tonight if you like; so that he can write to you and make an appointment.”
“Do. Ah, Marian, instinct is better and truer than intellect. I have been for two years trying to believe all kinds of evil of you; and yet I knew all the time that you were an angel.”
Marian laughed. “I suppose that under our good understanding I must let you say pretty things to me. You must write me a sonnet before your enthusiasm evaporates. I am sure I deserve it as well as Clytemnestra.”
“I will. But I fear I shall tear it up for its unworthiness afterward.”
“Dont: I am not a critic. Talking of critics, where has Mrs. Leith
Fairfax gone to? Oh, there she is!”
Mrs. Fairfax came up when she saw Marian look round for her. “My dear,” she said: “it is past six. We must go. Elinor may be waiting for us.”
They found Elinor seated in the vestibule with Conolly, at whom Mrs. Fairfax plunged, full of words. Conolly and Douglas, introduced to one another by Marian, gravely raised their hats. When they had descended the stairs, they stood in a group near one of the doors whilst Conolly went aside to get their umbrellas. Just then Marmaduke Lind entered the building, and halted in surprise at finding himself among so many acquaintances.
“Hallo!” he cried, seizing Douglas’s hand, and attracting the attention of the bystanders by his boisterous tone. “Here you are again, old man! Delighted to see you. Didnt spot you at first, in the beard. George told me you were back. I met your mother in Knightsbridge last Thursday; but she pretended not to see me. How have you enjoyed yourself abroad, eh? Very much in the old style, I suppose?”
“Thank you,” said Douglas. “I trust your people are quite well.”
“Hang me if I know!” said Marmaduke. “I have not troubled them much of late. How d’ye do, Mrs. Leith Fairfax? How are all the celebrities?” Mrs. Fairfax bowed coldly.
“Dont roar so, Marmaduke,” said Marian. “Everybody is looking at you.”
“Everybody is welcome,” said Marmaduke, loudly. “Douglas: you must come and see me. By Jove, now that I think of it, come and see me, all of you. I am by myself on week-nights from six to twelve; and I should enjoy a housewarming. If Mrs. Leith Fairfax comes, it will be all proper and right. Let us have a regular party.”
Mrs. Fairfax looked indignantly at him. Elinor looked round anxiously for Conolly. Marian, struck with the same fear, moved toward the door.
“Here, Marmaduke,” she said, offering him her hand. “Goodbye. You are in one of your outrageous humors this afternoon.”
“What am I doing?” he replied. “I am behaving myself perfectly. Let us settle about the party before we go.”
“Good evening, Mr. Lind,” said Conolly, coming up to them with the umbrellas. “This is yours, I think, Mrs. Leith Fairfax.”
“Good evening,” said Marmaduke, subsiding. “I —— Well, you are all off, are you?”
“Quite time for us, I think,” said Elinor. “Goodbye.”
Mrs. Fairfax, with a second and more distant bow, passed out with
Conolly and Douglas. Elinor waited a moment to whisper to Marmaduke.
“First rate,” said Marmaduke, in reply to the whisper; “and beginning to talk like one o’clock. Oh yes, I tell you!” He shook Elinor’s hand at such length in his gratitude for the inquiry that she was much relieved when a servant in livery interrupted