“And Christopher was mad with us! He was like a bear with a sore head after you left, and insisted upon going up to town on Monday just for the day; he came over here on Tuesday, didn’t he?” “No, he did not,” I was obliged to say, and I felt cross about it still, I don’t know why. “He is a queer creature,” said Lord Robert, “and I am glad you have not seen him--I don’t want him in the way. I am a selfish brute, you know.” I said Mrs. Carruthers had always brought me up to know men were that, so such a thing would not prejudice me against him. He laughed. “You must help me to come and sit and talk again, after dinner,” he said. “I can see the red-haired son means you for himself, but, of course, I shall not allow that!” I became uppish. “Malcolm and I are great friends,” I said, demurely. “He walks me round the golf course in the park, and gives me advice.” “Confounded impertinence!” said Lord Robert. “He thinks I ought not to go to Claridge’s alone when I leave here, in case some one made love to me. He feels if I looked more like his sisters it would be safer. I have promised that Véronique shall stay at the other side of the door if I have visitors.” “Oh, he is afraid of that, is he! Well, I think it is very probable his fears will be realized, as I shall be in London,” said Lord Robert. “But how do you know,” I began, with a questioning, serious air; “how do you know I should listen? You can’t go on to deaf people, can you?” “Are you deaf?” he asked. “I don’t think so, anyway I would try to cure your deafness.” He bent close over to me, pretending to pick up a book. Oh, I was having such a nice time! All of a sudden I felt I was really living, the blood was jumping in my veins, and a number of provoking, agreeable things came to the tip of my tongue to say, and I said them. We were so happy! Lord Robert is such a beautiful shape, that pleased me too; the perfect lines of things always give me a nice emotion. The other men look thick and clumsy beside him, and he does have such lovely clothes and ties! We talked on and on. He began to show me he was deeply interested in me. His eyes, so blue and expressive, said even more than his words. I like to see him looking down; his eyelashes are absurdly long and curly, not jet black like mine and Mr. Carruthers’, but dark brown and soft, and shaded, and oh! I don’t know how to say quite why they are so attractive. When one sees them half resting on his cheek it makes one feel it would be nice to put out the tip of one’s finger, and touch them. I never spent such a delightful afternoon. Only alas! it was all too short. “We will arrange to sit together after dinner,” he whispered, as even before the dressing gong had rung Lady Katherine came and fussed about, and collected every one, and more or less drove them off to dress, saying, on the way upstairs, to me, that I need not come down if I had rather not!