They hastened their steps a little, and came presently to the circle of beeches where they had lunched, and where most of the party were now assembled, preparing for the return journey. Lady Geraldine was sauntering to and fro with Major Mason, listening with a somewhat indifferent air to that gentleman's discourse. She caught sight of her lover the moment he appeared; and Clarissa saw the statuesque face light up with a faint flush of pleasure that brightened it wonderfully. But however pleased she might be, Lady Geraldine Challoner was the last of women to demonstrate her pleasure in her lover's arrival by any overt act. She received him with the tranquil grace of an empress, who sees only one courtier more approach the steps of her throne. They shook hands placidly, after Mr. Fairfax had shaken hands and talked for two or three minutes with Lady Laura Armstrong, who welcomed him with considerable warmth. The major dropped quietly away from Lady Geraldine's side, and the plighted lovers strolled under the trees for a little, pending the signal for the return. "So you know Miss Lovel?" Geraldine said, with an icy air of surprise, as soon as she and George Fairfax were alone. "I can hardly say that I know her; our acquaintance is the merest accident," answered Mr. Fairfax; and then proceeded to relate his railway adventure. "How very odd that she should travel alone!" "Scarcely so odd, when you remember the fact of her father's poverty. He could not be supposed to find a maid for his daughter." "But he might be supposed to take some care of her. He ought not to have allowed her to travel alone--at night too." "It was careless and imprudent, no doubt. Happily she came to no harm. She was spared from any encounter with a travelling swell-mobsman, who would have garotted her for the sake of her watch and purse, or an insolent bagman, who would have made himself obnoxiously agreeable on account of her pretty face." "I suppose she has been in the habit of going about the world by herself. That accounts for her rather strong-minded air." "Do you find her strong-minded? I should have thought her quite gentle and womanly." "I really know nothing about her; and I must not say anything against her. She is Laura's last _protegee_; and you know, when my sister takes any one up, it is always a case of rapture." After this the lovers began to talk about themselves, or rather George Fairfax talked about himself, giving a detailed account of his proceedings since last they had met.