’But your father?  I have heard you speak with bitter regret of this affair of Lady Mary’s because it vexes him.  Would your marriage with an American lady vex him less?’

’Why should it vex him at all?  Is she vulgar, or ill to look at, or stupid?’

‘Think of her mother.’

’I am not going to marry her mother.  Or for that matter am I going to marry her.  You are taking all that for granted in most unfair way.’

‘How can I help it after what I saw yesterday?’

’I will not talk any more about it.  We had better go down or we shall get no lunch.’  Lady Mabel, as she followed him, tried to make herself believe that all her sorrow came from regret that so fine a scion of the British nobility should throw himself away upon an American adventuress.

The guests were still at lunch when they entered the dining-room, and Isabel was seated close to Mrs Jones.  Silverbridge at once went up to her,—­and place was made for him as though he had almost a right to be next to her.  Miss Boncassen herself bore the honours well, seeming to regard the little change at table as though it was of no moment.  ‘I became so eager about that game,’ she said, ‘that I went on too long.’

‘I hope you are now none the worse.’

’At six o’clock this morning I thought I should never use my legs again.’

‘Were you awake at six?’ said Silverbridge, with pitying voice.

’That was it.  I could not sleep.  Now I begin to hope that sooner or later I shall unstiffen.’

During every moment, at every word that he uttered, he was thinking of the declaration of love which he had made to her.  But it seemed to him as though the matter had not dwelt on her mind.  When they drew their chairs away from the table he thought that not a moment was to be lost before some further explanation of their feelings for each other should be made.  Was not the matter which had been so far discussed of vital importance for both of them?  And, glorious as she was above all other women, the offer which he had made must have some weight with her.  He did not think that he proposed to give more than she deserved, but still that which he was so willing to give was not a little.  Or was it possible that she had not understood his meaning?  If so, he would not willingly lose a moment before he made it plain to her.  But she seemed content to hang about with the other women, and when she sauntered about the grounds seated herself on a garden-chair with Lady Mabel, and discussed with great eloquence the general beauty of Scottish scenery.  An hour went on in this way.  Could it be that she knew that he had offered to make her his wife?  During this time he went and returned more than once, but still she was there, on the same garden-seat, talking to those who came in her way.

Then on a sudden she got up and put her hand on his arm.  ’Come and take a turn with me,’ she said.  ’Lord Silverbridge, do you remember anything of last night?’