"My dear child, how--how----Ahem! no, it's no use; I must speak my mind!
My dear Nell, if I were as vain as some women, and, like most, had a
strong objection to being cut out in my own house by my own cousin, I
should send you to bed! Where did you get that dress, and who made it?"
Nell laughed and blushed.
"I bought it in Regent Street--half of it--and made the rest; and please
don't pretend that you like it."
"I won't," said Lady Wolfer succinctly. "My dear, you are too pretty for
anything, and the dress is charming! Oh, mine! Mine is commonplace
compared beside it, and smacks the modiste and the Louvre; while
yours----Archie is right; you have more taste than Cerise herself----"
She broke off as the earl entered. "Don't you admire Nell's dress?" she
said, but with her eyes fixed on one of her bracelets, which appeared to
have come unfastened.
The earl looked at Nell--blushing furiously now--with grave attention.
"I always admire Miss Lorton's dresses," he said, with a little bow.
Then his eyes wandered to the white arm and the open bracelet, and he
made a step toward his wife; then he hesitated, and, before he could
make up his mind to fasten it, she had snapped to the clasp.
"I tell her she will cause a sensation to-night," she said, moving away.
He looked at his wife gravely.
"Indeed, yes," he said absently. "Is it not time some of them arrived?"
As he spoke, the footman announced Lady Angleford.
She came forward, her train sweeping behind her, a pleasant smile on her
mignonne face.
"Am I the first, Lady Wolfer? That is the punishment for American
punctuality!"
"So good of you!" murmured Lady Wolfer. "And where is Lord Angleford?"
"I'm sorry, but he has the gout!"
Lady Wolfer expressed her regret.
"And Lord Selbie?" she asked. "Shall we see him?"
"Did you ask him?" asked Lady Angleford, her brow wrinkling eagerly. "Is
he in England? Have you heard that he has returned?"
Another woman would have been embarrassed, but Lady Wolfer was too
accustomed to getting into scrapes of this kind not to find a way out of
them.
"Isn't that like me? Nell, dear--this is my cousin and our guardian
angel, Miss Lorton--Lady Angleford! Did we ask Lord Selbie?"
Nell smiled and shook her head.
"N-o," she said; "his name was not on the list, I think."