“Don’t say others, Gardy--say one other, and I am content.” As she said this, she drew her hand hurriedly away, for they were already approaching the great entrance, on the terrace of which Grenfell and young Ladarelle were talking and laughing. “Mind, Sir, not a word of my accident!” And with this she sprang to the ground before he could offer his hand, and, hurrying up the steps, disappeared within the building. “Won’t you ask Grenfell to stop to dinner, Sir?” whispered Dolly, as Sir Within, after a few cold common-places, was about to pass on. “Not to-day.” “But I have half done it already, Sir. It was a great liberty on my part, but I blundered into it.” “Will you give us your company at dinner to-morrow, Mr. Grenfell?” said Sir Within, without the hesitation of a moment. Grenfell accepted, and, as Sir Within moved on, turning to Dolly, he said, “Did you remark his agitation--did you notice the embarrassment of his look and manner? Take my word for it, he has made her an offer.” “Do you know it was passing through my mind the very same thought; for as they turned the angle of the copse yonder, I saw her snatch her hand from him.” “Come back and dine with me. Common delicacy forbids you to spoil a _tête-à-tête_.” “I can’t take the thing as coolly as you do, Grenfell. It’s no laughing matter to me.” “Don’t laugh then, that’s all. There can be no reason, however, that you should not dine; so step in, and let’s be off.” “I suspect you are right,” said Dolly, as they drove away. “The old fool has capped his folly. I whispered to him to ask you to dine.” “I heard you, and I marked the eager way he put it off till tomorrow. His confusion got the better of all his tact, and showed me plainly enough that something had occurred to excite him greatly.” “She passed in, too, without ever looking up; she never bowed to us--did you notice that?” “I saw it all, and I said to myself that Master Dolly’s next dealings with Joel will entail heavy sacrifices.” “It’s not done yet,” said Ladarelle, with an affected boldness. “No, nor need be for some weeks to come; but let us talk no more of it till we have dined. Vyner sent me his cellar-key this morning, and we’ll see if his old wine cannot suggest some good counsel.” CHAPTER XXXVIII. SCHEMING They sat late over their wine, and telling the servants to go to bed, Grenfell ordered that he should not be called before noon on the next day. According to custom, his serrant had left his letters by his bedside, and then retired noiselessly, and without disturbing him. It was already late in the afternoon when Grenfell awoke. The first note he opened was a short one from Sir Within, begging to excuse himself from the expected happiness of receiving Mr. Grenfell that day at dinner, as a sudden attack of his old enemy the gout had just laid him up in bed. “If I have only my usual fortune,” added he, “my seizure will be a brief one, and I may soon again reckon on the pleasure of seeing you here.”