Bessie was to have lunched to-day with congenial archaeological friends, intelligent owners of interesting fossils.

Nevertheless, when Wentworth's cob Conrad was seen courteously allowing himself to be conducted to the stable she instantly decided to lunch at home, and to visit her friends when they were not expecting her, in the afternoon.
_It could make no difference to them_, she had told Magdalen, who shook her head over that well-known phrase, which Colonel Bellairs had long since established as "a household word." Bessie was not to be moved by Magdalen's disapproval, however.

She retired to her chamber, donned a certain enamel brooch which she only wore on Sundays, and appeared at luncheon.
It was not a particularly cheerful meal.

Wentworth was silent and depressed.

Colonel Bellairs did not for an instant cease to speak about the right of way during the whole of luncheon, even when his back was turned while he was bending over a ham on the sideboard.