Part 128 (1/2)

Quite useless! Lady Lundie holds her ground. Having heard absolutely nothing of her relatives for the last six months, she is burning with curiosity to hear more. There is a name she has not mentioned yet. She places a certain constraint upon herself, and mentions it now.

”And Sir Patrick?” says her ladys.h.i.+p, subsiding into a gentle melancholy, suggestive of past injuries condoned by Christian forgiveness. ”I only know what report tells me. Did you meet with Sir Patrick at Florence and Naples, also?”

Julius and his wife look at each other again. The clock in the hall strikes. Julius shudders. Lady Holchester's patience begins to give way.

There is an awkward pause. Somebody must say something. As before, Lady Holchester replies ”Sir Patrick went abroad, Lady Lundie, with his niece and her husband; and Sir Patrick has come back with them.”

”In good health?” her ladys.h.i.+p inquires.

”Younger than ever,” Lady Holchester rejoins.

Lady Lundie smiles satirically. Lady Holchester notices the smile; decides that mercy shown to _this_ woman is mercy misplaced; and announces (to her husband's horror) that she has news to tell of Sir Patrick, which will probably take his sister-in-law by surprise.

Lady Lundie waits eagerly to hear what the news is.

”It is no secret,” Lady Holchester proceeds--”though it is only known, as yet to a few intimate friends. Sir Patrick has made an important change in his life.”

Lady Lundie's charming smile suddenly dies out.

”Sir Patrick is not only a very clever and a very agreeable man,” Lady Holchester resumes a little maliciously; ”he is also, in all his habits and ways (as you well know), a man younger than his years--who still possesses many of the qualities which seldom fail to attract women.”

Lady Lundie starts to her feet.

”You don't mean to tell me, Lady Holchester, that Sir Patrick is married?”

”I do.”