Some one came laughing to the drawing-room and threw
it open. Mrs. Penfold, flushed and excited, stood in the doorway.
"My dear, did you _ever_ know such kind people!"
Her arms were laden with flowers, and with parcels of different sorts.
Susy came behind, carrying two great pots of Japanese lilies.
"You said you'd like to see those old drawings of Keswick--by I forget
whom. Lady Tatham has sent you the whole set--they had them--you may
keep them as long as you like. And Lord Tatham has sent flowers. Just
look at those roses!" Mrs. Penfold put down the basket heaped with them
at Lydia's feet, while Susy--demurely--did the same with the lilies.
"And there is a fascinating parcel of books for Susy--_all_ the new
reviews! ... _Oh_! Mr. Faversham--I declare--why, I never saw you!"
Voluble excuses and apologies followed. Meanwhile Lydia, with a bright
colour, stood bewildered, the flowers all about her, and the drawings in
her hands. Faversham escaped as soon as he could. As he approached Lydia
to say good-bye, she looked up, put the drawings aside, and hurriedly
came with him to the door.
"_Accept_!" she said. "Be sure you accept!"
He had a last vision of her standing in the dark hall, and of her soft,
encouraging look. As he drove away, two facts stood out in consciousness:
first, that he was falling fast and deep in love; next, that--by the look
of things--he had a rival, with whom, in the opinion of all practical
people, it would be mere folly for him to think of competing.
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