He goes with me. Lily, I'll be back for you as
soon as possible."
A moment, and they watched the carriage roll away.
CHAPTER XXIII
This evening there was a great dinner-party at Colonel Catesby's; a
political dinner. Lilian had carefully prepared for the occasion. In
Quarrier's opinion, she would far outshine her previous appearances;
she was to wear certain jewels which he had purchased on a recent
visit to town--at an outlay of which he preferred to say nothing
definite. "They are the kind of thing," he remarked, with a
significant smile, "that can be passed on to one's children."
But would it be possible for her to keep the engagement? Through the
afternoon she lay in her bedroom with drawn blinds, endeavouring to
sleep. Once or twice Denzil entered, very softly, and stood by her
for a moment; she looked at him and smiled, but did not speak. At
half-past six he brought her tea with his own hand. Declaring
herself quite recovered, she rose.
"This is no such important affair that you must go at all costs," he
said, regarding her anxiously. "Say you feel unable, and I'll send a
message at once."
Already she had assured him that it would disappoint her greatly not
to go. Lilian meant, of course, that she could not bear to
disappoint _him_, and to make confusion in their hostess's
arrangements.
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