‘You are evidently in a state of confusion, Lord Palmet,’ said Cecilia.

The tone of rebuke and admonishment was unperceived.  ’Not about the facts,’ he rejoined.  ’I ’m for fair play all round; no trickery.  I tell Beauchamp all I know, just as I told you this morning, Miss Halkett.  What I don’t like is Lespel turning Tory.’

Cecilia put a stop to his indiscretions by halting for Mrs. Devereux, and saying to Beauchamp, ’If your friend would return to Bevisham by rail, this is the nearest point to the station.’

Palmet, best-natured of men, though generally prompted by some of his peculiar motives, dismounted from his horse, leaving him to Beauchamp, that he might conduct Mr. Lydiard to the station, and perhaps hear a word of Miss Denham:  at any rate be able to form a guess as to the secret of that art of his, which had in the space of an hour restored a happy and luminous vivacity to the languid Mrs. Wardour-Devereux.

CHAPTER XXI

The question as to the examination of the whigs, and the fine blow struck by Mr. Everard Romfrey

Itchincope was famous for its hospitality.  Yet Beauchamp, when in the presence of his hostess, could see that he was both unexpected and unwelcome.  Mrs. Lespel was unable to conceal it; she looked meaningly at Cecilia, talked of the house being very full, and her husband engaged till late in the afternoon.  And Captain Baskelett had arrived on a sudden, she said.  And the luncheon-table in the dining-room could not possibly hold more.

‘We three will sit in the library, anywhere,’ said Cecilia.

So they sat and lunched in the library, where Mrs. Devereux served unconsciously for an excellent ally to Cecilia in chatting to Beauchamp, principally of the writings of Mr. Lydiard.

Had the blinds of the windows been drawn down and candles lighted, Beauchamp would have been well contented to remain with these two ladies, and forget the outer world; sweeter society could not have been offered him:  but glancing carelessly on to the lawn, he exclaimed in some wonderment that the man he particularly wished to see was there.  ’It must be Dollikins, the brewer.  I’ve had him pointed out to me in Bevisham, and I never can light on him at his brewery.’

No excuse for detaining the impetuous candidate struck Cecilia.  She betook herself to Mrs. Lespel, to give and receive counsel in the emergency, while Beauchamp struck across the lawn to Mr. Dollikins, who had the squire of Itchincope on the other side of him.

Late in the afternoon a report reached the ladies of a furious contest going on over Dollikins.  Mr. Algy Borolick was the first to give them intelligence of it, and he declared that Beauchamp had wrested Dollikins from Grancey Lespel.  This was contradicted subsequently by Mr. Stukely Culbrett.  ‘But there’s heavy pulling between them,’ he said.