Chapter 13: The Lover Greets the Lady

There was a pause when he had gone.

Mrs. Clive, the very essence of dignified disapprobation, stood in the centre of the room. Mr. Ash, a little flustered, was near the window, first gazing through it in the direction which Mr. Summers had taken, and then, a little dubiously, out of the corners of his eyes at his indignant friend. Mr. Ely’s hands were in his trouser pockets, his legs were wide apart his countenance was red. He seemed to be in a very dissatisfied frame of mind indeed.

It was he who broke the silence.

“You see, Ash, it was a wild goose chase we came upon! That man looks like it, by George!”

“My dear fellow, I hope you will not pay the slightest attention to what that person says. He is the kind of man who will say anything. I assure you there is not the slightest occasion for you to feel concerned.”

From Mr. Ash’s manner it almost seemed as though he desired to convey a greater feeling of assurance that he quite felt himself. He cast several glances in the direction of Mrs. Clive, as though seeking for support.

“It depends upon what you call the ‘slightest occasion’ for concern,” retorted Mr. Ely drily. “When a man tells you that he is going to marry the girl who has promised to be your wife, and that he is going to meet her underneath the trysting tree--where love lies dreaming, he said, by gad!--some people would think that there was some reason to feel concerned!”

Mr. Ash smiled and rubbed his hands, and fidgeted upon his feet, and looked at Mrs. Clive. He seemed to find some difficulty in finding something suitable to say. But Mrs. Clive came nobly to his rescue.

She advanced to Mr. Ely with a smiling countenance and an outstretched hand.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Ely; you have not spoken to me yet. I am pleased to have you back with us so soon.”

Mr. Ely seemed in two minds at first as to whether he should take her hand. Then he just touched it with his own.

“Good afternoon, ma’am! If you’re pleased, I’m sure I am--though I must say your pleasure’s easily found.”

But the old lady was not to be so easily put down. Her cue seemed to be to assume unconsciousness of there being anything unpleasant in the air.

“The pleasure of your visit is heightened by its unexpectedness. Lily has been working all the morning in her room upstairs--you have no idea how industrious she is.”

Mr. Ely looked at her suspiciously, as though he doubted if she were a strict exponent of the truth.

“I thought he said that he was going to meet her underneath the trysting tree!”

The old lady smiled a superior smile.

“You really must not believe such nonsense as that. I assure you it is the greatest presumption upon his part.”

“It would require a good deal of assurance to make me believe that it was not.”

“Lily will be with us directly. Young ladies cannot rush into a gentleman’s presence quite at a moment’s notice, you know.”

“I beg that Miss Truscott will take her time!”