The acquaintance with the Leighs was of recent date, and Lucian's past history was evidently unknown. He was a great hero to Wilfred's sisters, and when a cheerful account of him arrived from Mrs Leigh to her son's friend, they all rejoiced as if he had been their brother. Amethyst and Una had one point in common with their mother; they were quite capable of keeping their own counsel when they thought it desirable. CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. AN INTEREST IN LIFE. When the tableaux at Beechgrove were over, and the girls came back to Restharrow, Amethyst, felt as if she had had enough of the Jacksons for the present. She gave herself no airs, but, fresh and unworn as were her impulses for work or study, the beauty of the season had learned to expect more from society than very amateurish acting, and boy and girl dancing and flirting of the simplest kind. She was not vain enough to enjoy indiscriminate admiration, and indeed, took it as a matter of course. She found a letter from her mother, summoning herself and Una to join her in a few days' time, to start immediately for the south of France. Lady Haredale was delighted to think that her dear girls had been having a good time. Mrs Lorrimore was the kindest of women. If Amethyst had not quite enough money for the journey to London, she had better ask her hostess to advance it. Lady Haredale was in a hurry to catch the post. Amethyst tossed the letter into a drawer, and gave a vicious stamp with the white slippers which she had just put on, and then ran hastily down-stairs to dinner. The hall at Restharrow was the gathering-place of the company, and as Amethyst came down the stairs dressed all in white, she saw, among the guests gathered picturesquely round the fire, the slight alert figure and peculiar face of Oliver Carisbrooke. He came right up to the foot of the staircase to meet her, and greeted her with marked and eager interest. "I am not disappointed; you are here still?" he said. "Oh, but it is good to see you." Amethyst hardly knew how to answer. He claimed her and appropriated her, standing by her side until he was told to take her in to dinner, and then setting himself at once to talk to her in tones meant for her ear only. "So you are here," he said; "and is it well? Have you regrets?" "Not for London," said Amethyst, surprised at his manner. "No," he said, "you were not born to live in a gilded cage. You couldn't have endured it long. Oh, do you know how I watched you? I did not mean to let you marry Grattan. I would have stopped you--before it was too late." "I don't see how you could have anything to do with it, Mr Carisbrooke."