"La, Mr. Carr!"
John bowed profoundly.
"Give ye good den, madam," he said. "I am just about to descend. Thank you, Jim." He leaned heavily on the man's arm.
Miss Betty walked round him admiringly.
"Lud! 'Tis mighty elegant, I vow! But I protest, I am shy!"
"Egad, Miss Betty! and why?"
"You are not so young as I imagined," she replied candidly.
"Bear in mind, madam, that I never sought to deceive you. I am an aged man."
"Thirty!" she scoffed, and went on ahead. "Come, child, and mind the first step!"
At the bottom of the staircase stood Mr. Beauleigh, a man of medium height, thin-lipped and grey-eyed. He came forward with one hand outstretched.
"I am delighted to see you so much better, sir. I trust your shoulder no longer pains you?"
My lord pushed Jim gently to one side and placed his hand in Mr. Beauleigh's.
"I thank you, sir, it is almost well. But for Miss Betty, who, I fear, has the makings of a true tyrant, I should not wear this obnoxious sling."
Mr. Beauleigh smiled a little.
"Ah, yes, she keeps us all in order, does Betty. Pray, will you not walk a little in the garden? There are chairs on the lawn-and here is my daughter."
He waved to the door, and Carstares, turning, beheld Diana.
She stood framed by the dark wood, gowned in amber silk, with old lace falling from her elbows and over the bosom of her dress. Her hair was dark as night, with little tendrils curling over her broad, white brow. One rolling curl fell over her shoulder, the rest were gathered up under a small lace cap, which was secured by means of a riband passed beneath her chin.
A Dress of Spitalfields Silk. About the middle of the 18th Century. from Old English Costumes, c. 1908, p. 19.
Jack gazed, and gazed again, and in her turn Diana studied him with wide brown eyes of almost childlike innocence. Then her lids fluttered and curling lashes veiled the glorious depths, as a slow blush mounted to her cheeks.
My lord recovered his manners and made his most approved leg as her father presented him.
"My love, this is Mr. Carr-"
Diana sank into a curtsey.
"-and, Mr. Carr, this is my daughter, Diana."
"I am delighted to make Miss Beauleigh's acquaintance," said John, and raised her hand to his lips.
The delicate, tapering fingers trembled a little in his hold, and tremulous lips parted in the shyest and most adorable smile that he had ever seen.
"Indeed, sir, we are already acquainted. I am not like to forget my rescuer."