"
"Here I am, Lady Errington," and Lorimer sauntered forward with rather a
forced smile,--a smile which altogether vanished, leaving his face
strangely pale, as she stretched out her hand to him, and said
laughingly--
"You bad Mr. Lorimer! Where were you? You know it would make me quite
unhappy not to wish you good-night. Ah, you are a very naughty brother!"
"Come home with us, George," said Sir Philip eagerly. "Do, there's a
good fellow!"
"I can't, Phil!" answered Lorimer, almost pathetically. "I can't
to-night--indeed, I can't! Don't ask me!" And he wrung his friend's hand
hard,--and then bravely met Thelma's bright glance.
"Forgive me!" he said to her. "I know I ought to have presented myself
before--I'm a dreadfully lazy fellow, you know! Good-night!"
Thelma regarded him steadfastly.
"You look,--what is it you call yourself sometimes--_seedy_?" she
observed. "Not well at all. Mind you come to us to-morrow!"
He promised--and then accompanied them down to their carriage--he and
Beau Lovelace assisting to cover Thelma with her fur cloak, and being
the last to shake hands with Sir Philip as he sprang in beside his wife,
and called to the coachman "Home!" The magic word seemed to effect the
horses, for they started at a brisk trot, and within a couple of minutes
the carriage was out of sight.
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