Precious lucky for
Oliver to have got in at all!
The door closed on Lady Lucy. Forgetting for an instant what had
happened before her hostess entered, Elizabeth Niton, bristling with
remarks, turned impetuously toward Forbes. He had gone back to first
editions, and was whistling vigorously as he worked. With a start, Lady
Niton recollected herself. Her face reddened afresh; she rose, walked
with as much majesty as her station admitted to the door, which she
closed sharply behind her.
As soon as she was gone Bobbie stopped whistling. If she was really
going to make a quarrel of it, it would certainly be a great bore--a
hideous bore. His conscience pricked him for the mean and unmanly
dependence which had given the capricious and masterful little woman so
much to say in his affairs. He must really find fresh work, pay his
debts, those to Lady Niton first and foremost, and marry the girl who
would make a decent fellow of him. But his heart smote him about his
queer old Fairy Blackstick. No surrender!--but he would like to
make peace.
* * * * *
It was past eight o'clock when the four-in-hand on which the new member
had been touring the constituency drove up to the Tallyn door.
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