CHAPTER IX.
WAITING FOR DINNER.
Dinner at Hartledon had been ordered for seven o'clock. It was beyond
that hour when Dr. Ashton arrived, for he had been detained--a
clergyman's time is not always under his own control. Anne and Arthur
were with him, but not Mrs. Ashton. He came in, ready with an apology for
his tardiness, but found he need not offer it; neither Lord Hartledon nor
his brother having yet appeared.
"Hartledon and that boy Carteret have not returned home yet," said the
countess-dowager, in her fiercest tones, for she liked her dinner more
than any other earthly thing, and could not brook being kept waiting for
it. "And when they do come, they'll keep us another half-hour dressing."
"I beg your ladyship's pardon--they have come," interposed Captain
Dawkes. "Carteret was going into his room as I came out of mine."
"Time they were," grumbled the dowager. "They were not in five minutes
ago, for I sent to ask."
"Which of the two won the race?" inquired Lady Maude of Captain Dawkes.
"I don't think Carteret did," he replied, laughing. "He seemed as sulky
as a bear, and growled out that there had been no race, for Hartledon had
played him a trick."
"What did he mean?"
"Goodness knows."
"I hope Hartledon upset him," charitably interrupted the dowager. "A
ducking would do that boy good; he is too forward by half.
Pages:
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144