Year after
year she had accepted the invitation,--and it had been declined on
his behalf, because it did not suit him and his wife to meet each
other. But now he was obliged to go there, just at the time of the
year when whist at his club was most attractive. To meet the
convenience of Lord Mistletoe,--and the House of Commons--a
Saturday afternoon was named for the conference, which made it
worse for Lord Augustus as he was one of a little party which had
private gatherings for whist on Sunday afternoons. But he went to
the conference, travelling down by the same train with his nephew;
but not in the same compartment, as he solaced with tobacco the
time which Lord Mistletoe devoted to parliamentary erudition.
The four met in her Grace's boudoir, and the Duke began by
declaring that all this was very sad. Lord Augustus shook his head
and put his hands in his trousers pockets,--which was as much as to
say that his feelings as a British parent were almost too strong
for him. "Your mother and I think, that something ought to be
done," said the Duke turning to his son.
"Something ought to be done," said Lord Mistletoe.
"They won't let a fellow go out with a fellow now," said Lord
Augustus.
"Heaven forbid!" said the Duchess, raising both her hands.
"I was thinking, Mistletoe, that your mother might have met Lady
Penwether.
Pages:
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614