"What does the girl mean? I've never heard such unladylike words in a
drawing-room in my life."
Dick blundered in: "It's all my fault, mother--"
"I've not the slightest doubt of that," returned the old lady with
asperity. "But what Austin and Katherine have to do with it I
can't imagine."
The servant opened the door.
"Lord Banstead."
He entered a cold, strange silence. Everyone had forgotten him. He must
have attributed the ungenial atmosphere to his own lateness--it was
half-past eight--for he made penitent apology to Mrs. Ware. Austin
greeted him coldly. Dick nodded absently from the other side of the
room. Viviette, with a sweeping glance of defiance at the assembled
family, held herself very erect, and with hard eyes and quivering lips
came straight to the young fellow.
"Lord Banstead," she said. "You have asked me four times to marry you.
Did you mean it, or were you lying, too?"
Banstead's pallid cheeks flushed. He was overcome with confusion.
"Of course I mean it--meant to ask you again to-day--ask you now.
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