Horace hastened to open the door for Mercy.
"How long shall you be away?" he whispered, confidentially. "I had a
thousand things to say to you, and they have interrupted us."
"I shall be back in an hour."
"We shall have the room to ourselves by that time. Come here when you
return. You will find me waiting for you."
Mercy pressed his hand significantly and went out. Lady Janet turned
to Julian, who had thus far remained in the background, still, to all
appearance, as unwilling as ever to enlighten his aunt.
"Well?" she said. "What is tying your tongue now? Grace is out of the
room; why won't you begin? Is Horace in the way?"
"Not in the least. I am only a little uneasy--"
"Uneasy about what?"
"I am afraid you have put that charming creature to some inconvenience
in sending her away just at this time."
Horace looked up suddenly, with a flush on his face.
"When you say 'that charming creature,'" he asked, sharply, "I suppose
you mean Miss Roseberry?"
"Certainly," answered Julian. "Why not?"
Lady Janet interposed. "Gently, Julian," she said. "Grace has only been
introduced to you hitherto in the character of my adopted daughter--"
"And it seems to be high time," Horace added, haughtily, "that I should
present her next in the character of my engaged wife."
Julian looked at Horace as if he could hardly credit the evidence of his
own ears. "Your wife!" he exclaimed, with an irrepressible outburst of
disappointment and surprise.
"Yes. My wife," returned Horace. "We are to be married in a fortnight.
May I ask," he added, with angry humility, "if you disapprove of the
marriage?"
Lady Janet interposed once more. "Nonsense, Horace," she said. "Julian
congratulates you, of course."
Julian coldly and absently echoed the words. "Oh, yes! I congratulate
you, of course."
Lady Janet returned to the main object of the interview.
"Now we thoroughly understand one another," she said, "let us speak of a
lady who has dropped out of the conversation for the last minute or two.
I mean, Julian, the mysterious lady of your letter. We are alone, as you
desired. Lift the veil, my reverend nephew, which hides her from mortal
eyes! Blush, if you like--and can. Is she the future Mrs. Julian Gray?"
"She is a perfect stranger to me," Julian answered, quietly.
"A perfect stranger! You wrote me word you were interested in her."
"I _am_ interested in her. And, what is more, you are interested in her,
too."
Lady Janet's fingers drummed impatiently on the table. "Have I not
warned you, Julian, that I hate mysteries? Will you, or will you not,
explain yourself?"
Before it was possible to answer, Horace rose from his chair. "Perhaps I
am in the way?" he said.