’You did well, cousin Dorothy; for everything goes by law and order here.  All is reason and rhyme too in this house.  My lord’s father, although one of the best and kindest of men, is, as I said, somewhat precise, and will, as he says himself, be king in his own kingdom—­ thinking doubtless of one who is not such.  I should not talk thus with you, cousin, were you like some young ladies I know; but there is that about you which pleases me greatly, and which I take to indicate discretion.  When first I came to the house, not having been accustomed to so severe a punctuality, I gave my lord no little annoyance; for, oftener than once or twice, I walked into his dining-room not only after grace had been said, but after the first course had been sent down to the hall-tables.  My lord took his revenge in calling me the wild Irish-woman.’

Here she laughed very sweetly.

‘The only one,’ she resumed, ’who does here as he will, is my husband.  Even lord Charles, who is governor of the castle, must be in his place to the moment; but for my husband—.’

The bell rang a second time.  Lady Margaret rose, and taking Dorothy’s arm, led her from the room into a long dim-lighted corridor.  Arrived at the end of it, where a second passage met it at right angles, she stopped at a door facing them.

‘I think we shall find my lord of Worcester here,’ she said in a whisper, as she knocked and waited a response.  ‘He is not here,’ she said.  ‘He expects me to call on him as I pass.  We must make haste.’

The second passage, in which were several curves and sharp turns, led them to a large room, nearly square, in which were two tables covered for about thirty.  By the door and along the sides of the room were a good many gentlemen, some of them very plainly dressed, and others in gayer attire, amongst whom Dorothy, as they passed through, recognised her cousin Scudamore.  Whether he saw and knew her she could not tell.  Crossing a small antechamber they entered the drawing-room, where stood and sat talking a number of ladies and gentlemen, to some of whom lady Margaret spoke and presented her cousin, greeting others with a familiar nod or smile, and yet others with a stately courtesy.  Then she said,

’Ladies, I will lead the way to the dining-room.  My lord marquis would the less willingly have us late that something detains himself.’

Those who dined in the marquis’s room followed her.  Scarcely had she reached the upper end of the table when the marquis entered, followed by all his gentlemen, some of whom withdrew, their service over for the time, while others proceeded to wait upon him and his family, with any of the nobility who happened to be his guests at the first table.

‘I am the laggard to-day, my lady,’ he said, cheerily, as he bore his heavy person up the room towards her.  ‘Ah!’ he went on, as lady Margaret stepped forward to meet him, leading Dorothy by the hand, ’who is this sober young damsel under my wild Irishwoman’s wing?  Our young cousin Vaughan, doubtless, whose praises my worthy Dr. Bayly has been sounding in my ears?’