Woman-like, she was quick to notice the change in him, and her heart
beat high with hope.
"He will love me yet," she whispered to herself triumphantly, as, with
outward calmness, she bade him au revoir till they should meet at
dinner.
Adrien went straight to his own rooms. An unusual restlessness was upon
him, and his pulses throbbed wildly, but as yet he did not understand
what these things meant. He, who had played the lover so lightly all his
life, did not realise that it was now his turn to feel Cupid's dart, and
that he was becoming as deeply enamoured of his pretty cousin as any raw
boy straight from college.
As he paced up and down his luxurious study, thoughtfully smoking a
cigar, his past life rose before him, with all its idleness and wasted
years. He knew that with most women he had only to throw down the glove
for it to be snatched up eagerly; women had loved him, petted and spoilt
him ever since he could remember. But here was one who thought of him as
nothing but a means to save her people--or, rather, his people---from
distress. It said much for Lady Constance's powers of reserve that she
had impressed him thus, and had she known it, nothing could have helped
her cause more.
Throwing himself into a chair, the young man reviewed again the
incidents of their ride. How beautiful she had looked; how pointedly and
yet gently she had reproved him for his long absences from his estates
and the people who loved him. Well, it should come to an end now, and
there and then he formed a resolve to return to town directly after the
race, and go through his affairs with Jasper. His friend would help him
to lead a worthier and more useful life, he thought--if any one could do
so.
When he went down to dinner that night few would have noticed any
difference in his calm face and demeanour; none, indeed, save Lady
Constance herself, who, with the subtlety which seems inbred in even the
best of her sex, devoted her attention almost exclusively to Mr. Jasper
Vermont. It was he who was allowed to sit next her at dinner; it was to
him she turned when the race, with which all present were concerned, was
the subject under discussion.
Adrien noted all this, and his heart grew heavy within him. But he did
not grudge Jasper her favour--as yet; he blamed himself too deeply for
the neglect of his past opportunities.
Jasper skilfully turned the conversation to Lady Merivale's ball, which
he described in detail to Lady Constance; adding many little realistic
touches concerning the fair hostess and Adrien, till he had convinced
her--as he thought--that there was a great deal more between them than
was really the case. For Vermont, as had been said before, was "no
fool"; and he realised only too well in what direction events were
tending with Lady Constance and her cousin.