Lesbia was the centre of a rather noisy little court, in which Mr. Smithson was conspicuous by his superior reserve.

He did not exert himself as a lover, paid no compliments, was not sentimental.  The pearl was won, and he wore it very quietly; but wherever Lesbia went he went; she was hardly ever out of his sight.

Maulevrier received the coolest possible greeting.  Lesbia turned pale with anger at sight of him, for his presence reminded her of the most humiliating passage in her life; but the big red satin sunshade concealed that pale angry look, and nothing in Lesbia’s manner betrayed emotion.

’Where have you been hiding yourself all this time, and why were you not at Henley?’ she asked.

‘I have been at Grasmere.’

’Oh, you were a witness of that most romantic marriage.  The Lady of Lyons reversed, the gardener’s son turning out to be an earl.  Was it excruciatingly funny?’

‘It was one of the most solemn weddings I ever saw.’

‘Solemn! what, with my Tomboy sister as bride!  Impossible!’

’Your sister ceased to be a Tomboy when she fell in love.  She is a sweet and womanly woman, and will make an adorable wife to the finest fellow I know.  I hear I am to congratulate you, Lesbia, upon your engagement with Mr. Smithson.’

’If you think I am the person to be congratulated, you are at liberty to do so.  My engagement is a fact.’

’Oh, of course, Mr. Smithson is the winner.  But as I hope you intend to be happy, I wish you joy.  I am told Smithson is a really excellent fellow when one gets to know him; and I shall make it my business to be better acquainted with him.’

Smithson was standing just out of hearing, watching the bowling.  Maulevrier went over to him and shook hands, their acquaintance hitherto having been of the slightest, and very shy upon his lordship’s part; but now Smithson could see that Maulevrier meant to be cordial.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

A RASTAQUOUERE.

There was a dinner party in one of the new houses in Grosvenor Place that evening, to which Lady Kirkbank and Lesbia had been bidden.  The new house belonged to a new man, who was supposed to have made millions out of railways, and other gigantic achievements in the engineering line; and the new man and his wife were friends of Mr. Smithson, and had made the simple Georgie’s acquaintance only within the last three weeks.

‘Of course they are stupid, my dear,’ she remarked, in response to some slighting remark of Lesbia’s, ’but I am always willing to know rich people.  One drops in for so many good things; and they never want any return in kind.  It is quite enough for them to be allowed to spend their money upon us.’