A joy, unbidden and instantly suppressed, pervaded me as he spoke.

“Perhaps they missed the train and will catch the next,” I hazarded.

“The fog in London is quite exceptional, the guard said.  I have given orders for the coachman to return and try for the next train.  It gets in at 6:42.  After that there is one at 7, and the last one is at 10:18.  But they will probably telegraph.”

“It makes me laugh,” I said.

“Come and have tea.  We shall not bother our heads about them.  They are, fortunately, well able to take care of themselves.”

Antony led the way to the library, where the tea was laid out.

I never have sat in such a comfortable sofa or felt more cosily at home.  Everything pleased me.  All is in perfect taste.

Antony talked to me gayly as he gave me some tea.  It was as if he wanted to remove the least feeling of awkwardness this unusual situation might possibly cause me to feel.

Ulfus, Belfus, and Bedevere had followed us, and now lay, like three grim guardians, upon the tiger-skin hearth-rug.

“How is your arm?” I asked.

“Oh, that is all right.  I had the shot taken out and it has quite healed up.  Wonderful escape we had that day!” And he laughed.

“And you were so good about it!  Augustus said he would have shot back if Mr. Dodd had hit him.”

“Mrs. Dodd would have made a nice target.  One does not often come across a person like that.  Are all your guests at Ledstone of the same sort as those I met?”

“No.  Some of them are worse,” I replied, gravely, smiling at him.  “Next time you shall come to an earlier party.  You would enjoy that.”  And I laughed, thinking of the first batch of relations we had entertained.

“I will come whenever you ask me,” he said, quite simply.

“No.  You know I would never ask you again, if I could help it.  Oh, you were so kind, but it—­” I stopped.  I did not know how to say what I meant.  I had better not have said so much.

“I don’t want you to have that feeling.  It amuses me to come, Comtesse, only you feed one too well.  Do you remember how I drank everything I could get hold of, to please you?”

“You were ridiculous!” And I laughed.

“I thought I was heroic.”  Then, in another voice:  “I think you must have that boudoir altered a little, you know, before long.  I can’t say I found your sofa comfortable.”

“Not like this.”  And I lay back luxuriously.

“I generally choose things with a reason, if I can.”

“That sounds like one of grandmamma’s speeches.”  Then I stupidly blushed, remembering, apropos of what she had said, almost the same thing.  It was when she accepted Mrs. Gurrage’s invitation to the ball, where she calculated I should meet Antony.  That was before she had the fainting-fit.  I stared into the fire.  What would have happened by now, if she could have carried out that plan—­the “suitable and happy” arrangement of my future!