By the time they arrived at Thurze House, Carstares was suspiciously white about the mouth, and there was once more a furrow-this time of pain-between his brows. But he was able to greet my Lady O'Hara with fitting elegance and to pay her at least three neat, laughing compliments before O'Hara took him firmly by the arm and marched him to his room, there to rest and recover before the dinner hour.
Shortly after, Jim arrived, highly contented with his new surroundings, and able to give a satisfactory verdict on Jenny's stalling. He had quite accepted O'Hara as a friend, after some jealous qualms, and was now well pleased that his master should be in his house instead of roaming the countryside.
At five o'clock, as the gong rang, my lord descended the stairs resplendent in old gold and silver trimmings, determined to be as gay and light-hearted as the occasion demanded, as though there had never been a Diana to upset the whole course of a man's life.
Not for nothing had he fought against the world for six long years. Their teaching had been to hide all feeling beneath a perpetual mask of nonchalance and wit; never for an instance to betray a hurt, and never to allow it to appear that he was anything but the most carefree of men. The training stood him in good stead now, and even O'Hara wondered to see him in such spirits after all that had passed.
Lady Molly was delighted with her guest, admiring his appearance, his fine, courtly manners, and falling an easy victim to his charm.
O'Hara, watching them, saw with content that his capricious little wife was really attracted to my lord. It was a high honour, for she was hard to please, and many of O'Hara's acquaintances had been received, if not with actual coldness, at least not with any degree of warmth.
At the end of the meal she withdrew with the warning that they were not to sit too long over their wine, and that Miles was not to fatigue his lordship.
O'Hara pushed the decanter towards his friend.
"I've a piece of news I daresay will interest ye!" he remarked.
Carstares looked at him inquiringly.
"Ay. 'Tis that his Grace of Andover has withdrawn his precious person to Paris."
Carstares raised one eyebrow.
"I suppose he would naturally wish to remain in the background after our little fracas."
"Does he ever wish to be in the background?"
"You probably know him better than I do. Does he?"
"He does not. 'Tis always in front he is, mighty prominent. Damn him!"
My lord was faintly surprised.