Howard looked at him compassionately, and whistled softly.
"My dear old man," he said, with an air of reluctance, "you fly rather
high! The lady you speak of is the belle of the present season; she is
the admired of all admirers; belted earls, to say nothing of noble
dukes, are at her feet. She was the star of the ball which I have just
left. If I may say so, I think you were very unwise to leave such a
peerless pearl to be snapped up--"
Stafford turned away from him and stifled a groan.
"I might have know it," he said. "The belle of the season! Well, why
not? There is no one more beautiful, no one more sweet. Who am I that
she should remember me? What am I--"
"Rather a foolish young man, if you ask me," said Howard. "If I'd been
in love with such a peerless creature, I shouldn't have left her to go
tramping after cattle in Australia."
"What else could I do?" exclaimed Stafford, sternly. "Have you
forgotten that I was not set free, that when--when death"--his voice
dropped--"set me free, that it was no time to speak of love to another
woman? I was obliged to go; but I've came back--too late, I suppose!
Don't say any more; let us talk of something else: you are looking
well. Howard."
"Yes, it's no use crying over spilt milk," said Howard, with a sigh.
"Oh, I'm all right. Look here, I'll put you up to-night; we're got a
spare room. Now, mix yourself another drink and light up another
cigar--not bad, are they--and tell me all you've been doing."
* * * * * At a quarter to four the following day Howard put in his appearance at
Lady Fitzharford's house in Eaton Square.
"Oh, I'm so glad you've come," she said: everybody was pleased to see
Howard; "you are just the man I want. That sweet creature, Miss Heron,
is coming here directly to try over some songs with me--I'm going to
sing at that Bazaar, you know--and as you know something of music--is
there anything you don't know, Mr. Howard?--you can give us your
opinion."
"With the greatest pleasure, my dear lady," responded Howard; "but on
two conditions: one, that you don't take my opinion; the other, that
you leave me alone with Miss Heron, directly she comes, for a quarter
of an hour."
Lady Fitzharford stared at him.
"Are you going to propose to her?" she asked, with a smile.