’So you have come, after all!—­Wasn’t it splendid?—­wasn’t it magnificent?  Isn’t it grand to have such great gifts, and to use them to such good purpose?—­Speak, Sydney!  Don’t feign a coolness which is foreign to your nature!’

I saw that she was hungry for me to praise the man whom she delighted to honour.  But, somehow, her enthusiasm cooled mine.

‘It was not a bad speech, of a kind.’

‘Of a kind!’ How her eyes flashed fire!  With what disdain she treated me!  ’What do you mean by “of a kind?” My dear Sydney, are you not aware that it is an attribute of small minds to attempt to belittle those which are greater?  Even if you are conscious of inferiority, it’s unwise to show it.  Mr Lessingham’s was a great speech, of any kind; your incapacity to recognise the fact simply reveals your lack of the critical faculty.’

’It is fortunate for Mr Lessingham that there is at least one person in whom the critical faculty is so bountifully developed.  Apparently, in your judgment, he who discriminates is lost.’

I thought she was going to burst into passion.  But, instead, laughing, she placed her hand upon my shoulder.

’Poor Sydney!—­I understand!—­It is so sad!—­Do you know you are like a little boy who, when he is beaten, declares that the victor has cheated him.  Never mind! as you grow older, you will learn better.’

She stung me almost beyond bearing,—­I cared not what I said.

’You, unless I am mistaken, will learn better before you are older.’

‘What do you mean?’

Before I could have told her—­if I had meant to tell; which I did not—­Lessingham came up.

’I hope I have not kept you waiting; I have been delayed longer than I expected.’

’Not at all,—­though I am quite ready to get away; it’s a little tiresome waiting here.’

This with a mischievous glance towards me,—­a glance which compelled Lessingham to notice me.

‘You do not often favour us.’

‘I don’t.  I find better employment for my time.’

’You are wrong.  It’s the cant of the day to underrate the House of Commons, and the work which it performs; don’t you suffer yourself to join in the chorus of the simpletons.  Your time cannot be better employed than in endeavouring to improve the body politic.’

’I am obliged to you.—­I hope you are feeling better than when I saw you last.’

A gleam came into his eyes, fading as quickly as it came.  He showed no other sign of comprehension, surprise, or resentment.

‘Thank you.—­I am very well.’

Marjorie perceived that I meant more than met the eye, and that what I meant was meant unpleasantly.

’Come,—­let us be off.  It is Mr Atherton to-night who is not well.’

She had just slipped her arm through Lessingham’s when her father approached.  Old Lindon stared at her on the Apostle’s arm, as if he could hardly believe that it was she.