There was talk, but Albinia could not give entire attention; she was watching for Mr. Kendal’s return, that she might guard Gilbert from his displeasure, and the instant she heard him, she sprang up, and flew into the hall. He could not help brightening at the eager welcome, but when she told him of Mr. Bowles’ opinion, he looked graver, and said, ‘I fear you must not always attach credit to all Gilbert’s reports.’ ‘Mr. Bowles told me himself that he must run no risk of inflammation.’ ‘You saw Mr. Bowles?’ ‘I went with Gilbert.’ ‘You? I never thought of your imposing so unpleasant a task on yourself. I fear the boy has been trespassing on your kindness.’ ‘No, indeed, he never asked me, but--’ with a sort of laugh to hide the warmth excited by his pleased, grateful look, ‘I thought it all in the day’s work, only natural--’ She would have given anything to have had time to enjoy his epanchement de coeur at those words, bit she was obliged to add, ‘Alas! there’s all the world in the drawing-room!’ ‘Who?’ ‘Osborns and Drurys.’ ‘Do you want me?’ ‘I ran away on the plea of calling you.’ ‘I’ll never do so again,’ was her inward addition, as his countenance settled into the accustomed fixed look of abstraction, and as an unwilling victim he entered the room with her, and the visitors were ‘dreadful enough’ to congratulate him. Albinia knew that it must be so unpleasant to him, that she blushed up to the roots of her hair, and could not look at anybody. When she recovered, the first comers were taking leave, but the second set stayed on and on till past luncheon-time, and far past her patience, before the room was at last cleared. Gilbert hurried in, and was received by his father with, ‘You are very much obliged to her!’ ‘Indeed I am,’ said Gilbert, in a winning, pleasant manner. ‘I don’t want you to be,’ said Albinia, affectionately laying her arm on his shoulder. ‘And now for luncheon--I pitied you, poor fellow; I thought you must have been famished.’ ‘Anything not to have all the Drurys at luncheon,’ said Gilbert, confidentially, ‘I had begun to wish myself at Tremblam.’ ‘By the bye,’ said Mr. Kendal, waking as he sat down at the bottom of the table, ‘how was it that the Drurys did not stay to luncheon?’ ‘Was that what they were waiting for?’ exclaimed Albinia. ‘Poor people, I had no notion of that.’ ‘They do have luncheon here in general,’ said Mr. Kendal, as if not knowing exactly how it came to pass. ‘O yes,’ said Lucy; ‘Sarah Anne asked me whether we ate wedding-cake every day.’ ‘Poor Miss Sarah Anne!’ said Albinia, laughing. ‘But one cannot help feeling inhospitable when people come so unconscionably early, and cut up all one’s morning.’