Colonel
Barton forgot politics to chat with her; and the mocking speculation in
Cyril Boden's eyes gradually softened, as the girl's charm and beauty
penetrated, little by little, through all the company.
Faversham alone seemed to have no innings with her till he was
about to take his departure. Then Victoria noticed that Lydia made a
quick movement toward him, and they stood together a few minutes,
talking--certainly not as strangers.
Gerald Tatham also noticed it. There were few things, within his powers,
that he left unnoticed.
"Now _that_ would be suitable!" he said in Lady Barbara's ear, nodding
toward the pair. "You saw how they came in together. But of course it's a
blind. Any one with half an eye can see that she's just fishing for
Harry!"
XII
Faversham sped home through the winding Cumbrian lanes, driven by the new
chauffeur just imported from Manchester. The hedges were thick with
meadow-sweet and its scent, mingled with that of new-mown hay, hung in
the hot, still air. In front of him the Ullswater mountains showed dimly
blue. It was a country he was beginning to love. His heart rose to it.
Small wonder in that! For here, in this northern landscape, so strange to
him but three months ago, he had first stumbled on Success--and he had
first met Lydia.
Was there any chance for him? Through all his talks with the country
neighbours, or with Lady Tatham, he had been keenly on the watch for
anything that might show him what Lydia's position in the Duddon Castle
circle actually was.
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