The duke, as he begged her
pardon, wore in his countenance that expression of modified sorrow
which is common to any gentleman who is supposed by himself to
have incommoded a lady. But over and above this,--or rather under
it,--there was a slight smile of derision, as though it were
impossible for him to look upon the bearing of Lady Lufton without
some amount of ridicule. All this was legible to eyes so keen as
those of Miss Dunstable and Mrs. Harold Smith, and the duke was known
to be a master of this silent inward sarcasm; but even by them,--by
Miss Dunstable and Mrs. Harold Smith,--it was admitted that Lady
Lufton had conquered. When her ladyship again looked up, the duke
had passed on; she then resumed the care of Miss Grantly's hand, and
followed in among the company.
"That is what I call unfortunate," said Miss Dunstable, as soon as
both belligerents had departed from the field of battle, "The Fates
sometimes will be against one."
"But they have not been at all against you here," said Mrs. Harold
Smith. "If you could arrive at her ladyship's private thoughts
to-morrow morning, you would find her to be quite happy in having
met the duke. It will be years before she has done boasting of her
triumph, and it will be talked of by the young ladies of Framley for
the next three generations.
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