He piloted the two damsels through the crowd to a large room, which had been arranged after the model of a railway refreshment-buffet, save that it was liberally furnished with things good to eat. Here Lady Baker’s men and maids dispensed strawberry ices, tea, coffee, Italian confectionery, German wines and German salads, to the famishing crowd; and here Geoffrey, by cramming them with ices, and creamy vanille-flavoured pastry, contrived to restore his cousins’ equanimity. There was some talk of dancing, and a few enthusiastic couples were already revolving in the drawing-room; but Geoffrey pleaded that no man could waltz in gray trousers, and thus escaped the infliction; and having the good fortune to find his uncle, tired of vestry and quarter-session talk and inclined to go home, this heartless young man had the satisfaction of packing Belle and Jessie into the landau before Lady Baker’s _fête_ was half over, as Jessie said discontentedly. They avenged themselves by abusing the party all the way home. ‘Those huge garden-parties are detestable!’ exclaimed Belle. ‘I know Lady Baker only gives them in order to be civil to a herd of people she doesn’t care a straw about. She gives nice little parties for her real friends. I wonder people can be so slavish as to go to her in droves.’ ‘I thought you said Lady Baker’s parties were delightful,’ said Geoffrey. ‘I know you wrote to me rapturously about her.’ ‘I’m only just beginning to see through her,’ replied Belle, who couldn’t get over the day’s annoyances. This tiresome Geoffrey had not been the least good to them. He might just as well have been in Norway. CHAPTER XIV. LUCILLE HAS STRANGE DREAMS. For a few nights, while Lucille’s fever was at the worst, Lucius Davoren took up his abode in Cedar House, and established himself in that little room adjoining Mr. Sivewright’s bedchamber which had been lately occupied by Lucille. Here he felt himself a sure guardian of his patient’s safety. No one could harm the old man while he, Lucius, was on the spot to watch by night, and while Mrs. Milderson, the nurse, in whom he had perfect confidence, was on guard by day. His own days must needs be fully occupied out of doors, whatever private cares might gnaw at his heartstrings; but after introducing the ex-policeman and his wife, who came to him with a kind of warranty from Mr. Otranto, and who seemed honest people, he felt tolerably satisfied as to the safety of property in the old house, as well as about that more valuable possession—life. He had locked the door of the room which contained the chief part of Mr. Sivewright’s collection, and carried the key about with him in his pocket; but there was still a great deal of very valuable property scattered about the house, as he knew.