’Never mind, Van.  You’ll roar.  Old Tom again.  We ’ll see by-and-by, after the champagne.  He—­this young Raikes-ha! ha!—­but I can’t tell you.’  And Andrew went away to Drummond, to whom he was more communicative.  Then he went to Melville, and one or two others, and the eyes of many became concentrated on Raikes, and it was observed as a singular sign that he was constantly facing about, and flushing the fiercest red.  Once he made an effort to get hold of Evan’s arm and drag him away, as one who had an urgent confession to be delivered of, but Evan was talking to Lady Jocelyn, and other ladies, and quietly disengaged his arm without even turning to notice the face of his friend.  Then the dinner was announced, and men saw the dinner.  The Countess went to shake her brother’s hand, and with a very gratulatory visage, said through her half-shut teeth.

’If Mama appears, rise up and go away with her, before she has time to speak a word.’  An instant after Evan found himself seated between Mrs. Evremonde and one of the Conley girls.  The dinner had commenced.  The first half of the Battle of the Bull-dogs was as peaceful as any ordinary pic-nic, and promised to the general company as calm a conclusion.

CHAPTER XXXI

The battle of the bull-dogs.  Part II.

If it be a distinct point of wisdom to hug the hour that is, then does dinner amount to a highly intellectual invitation to man, for it furnishes the occasion; and Britons are the wisest of their race, for more than all others they take advantage of it.  In this Nature is undoubtedly our guide, seeing that he who, while feasting his body allows to his soul a thought for the morrow, is in his digestion curst, and becomes a house of evil humours.  Now, though the epicure may complain of the cold meats, a dazzling table, a buzzing company, blue sky, and a band of music, are incentives to the forgetfulness of troubles past and imminent, and produce a concentration of the faculties.  They may not exactly prove that peace is established between yourself and those who object to your carving of the world, but they testify to an armistice.

Aided by these observations, you will understand how it was that the Countess de Saldar, afflicted and menaced, was inspired, on taking her seat, to give so graceful and stately a sweep to her dress that she was enabled to conceive woman and man alike to be secretly overcome by it.  You will not refuse to credit the fact that Mr. Raikes threw care to the dogs, heavy as was that mysterious lump suddenly precipitated on his bosom; and you will think it not impossible that even the springers of the mine about to explode should lose their subterranean countenances.  A generous abandonment to one idea prevailed.  As for Evan, the first glass of champagne rushed into reckless nuptials with the music in his head,