‘May I come and call?’

’Certainly.  Father will only be too proud,—­and I shall be prouder. 
Mother will be the proudest of all.  Mother very seldom goes out. 
Till we get a house we are at The Langham.  Thank you, Mr Sprottle. 
I think we’ll go and find father.’

Lord Silverbridge found himself close to Lady Mabel and Tregear, and also to Miss Cassewary, who had now joined Lady Mabel.  He had been much struck with the American beauty, but was not on that account the less anxious to carry out his great plan.  It was essentially necessary that he should do so at once, because the matter had been settled between him and his father.  He was anxious to assure her that if she would consent, then the Duke would be ready to pour out all kinds of paternal blessings on their heads.  ‘Come and take a turn among the haycocks,’ he said.

‘Frank declares,’ said Lady Mabel, ’that the hay is hired for the occasion.  I wonder whether that is true?’

‘Anybody can see,’ said Tregear, ’that it has not been cut off the grass it stands upon.’

’If I could find Mrs Montacute Jones I’d ask her where she got it,’ said Lady Mabel.

‘Are you coming?’ asked Silverbridge impatiently.

’I don’t think I am.  I have been walking round the haycocks till I am tired of them.’

‘Anywhere else then?’

’There isn’t anywhere else.  What have you done with your American beauty?  The truth is, Lord Silverbridge, you ask me for my company when she won’t give you hers any longer.  Doesn’t it look like it, Miss Cassewary?’

’I don’t think Lord Silverbridge is the man to forget an old friend for a new one.’

‘Not though the new friend be as lovely as Miss Boncassen?’

‘I don’t know that I ever saw a prettier girl,’ said Tregear.

‘I quite admit it,’ said Lady Mabel.  ’But that is no salve for my injured feelings.  I have heard so much talk about Miss Boncassen’s beauty for the last week, that I mean to get up a company of British females, limited, for the express purpose of putting her down.  Who is Miss Boncassen that we are all to be put on one side for her?’

Of course he knew that she was joking, but he hardly knew how to take her joke.  There is a manner of joking which carries with it much serious intention.  He did feel that Lady Mabel was not gracious to him because he had spent half an hour with this new beauty, and he was half inclined to be angry with her.  Was it fitting that she should be cross with him, seeing that he was resolved to throw at her feet all the good things that he had in the world?  ‘Bother Miss Boncassen,’ he said; ’you might as well come and take a turn with a fellow.’

‘Come along, Miss Cassewary,’ said she.  ’We will go around the haycocks yet once again.’  So they turned and the two ladies accompanied Lord Silverbridge.

But this was not what he wanted.  He could not say what he had to say in the presence of Miss Cassewary,—­nor could he ask her to take herself off in another direction.  Nor could he take himself off.  Now that he had joined himself to these two ladies he must make with them the tour of the gardens.  All this made him cross.  ‘These kind of things are a great bore,’ he said.