I hope it is not too late ?" He bowed.

"Your congratulations are so sincere," he said, "that they would be a propos late or early." When he stood with his wife whilst the guests were leaving, and saw with what manner she carried it all off,--as though she had been born in the good land of good breeding,--he was moved alternately with wonder and shame--shame that he had intended this noble creature as a sacrifice to his ugly temper and spite.
When all the guests were gone and the family stood alone in the drawing-room, a silence suddenly fell amongst them.

Presently Marion said to her mother in a half-whisper, "I wish Richard were here." They all felt the extreme awkwardness of the situation, especially when Lali bade General Armour, Mrs.Armour, and Marion good-night, and then, turning to her husband, said, "Good-night"-- she did not even speak his name.

"Perhaps you would care to ride to-morrow morning?
I always go to the Park at ten, and this will be my last ride of the season." Had she written out an elaborate proclamation of her intended attitude towards her husband, it could not have more clearly conveyed her mind than this little speech, delivered as to a most friendly acquaintance.
General Armour pulled his moustache fiercely, and, it is possible, enjoyed the situation, despite its peril.

Mrs.Armour turned to the mantel and seemed tremulously engaged in arranging some bric-a-brac.
Marion, however, with a fine instinct, slid her arm through that of Lali, and gently said: "Yes, of course Frank will be glad of a ride in the Park.