At that moment Morris appeared with the tea, and handed it to Sir Francis,--Thelma took none, and as the servant retired, she quietly resumed her occupation. There was a short silence, only broken by the hum of the wheel. Sir Francis sipped his tea with a meditative air, and studied the fair woman before him as critically as he would have studied a picture.
"I hope I'm not in your way?" he asked suddenly. She looked up surprised.
"Oh no--only I am sorry Philip is not here to talk to you. It would be so much pleasanter."
"Would it?" he murmured rather dubiously and smiling. "Well--I shall be quite contented if you will talk to me, Lady Errington!"
"Ah, but I am not at all clever in conversation," responded Thelma quite seriously. "I am sure you, as well as many others, must have noticed that. I never do seem to say exactly the right thing to please everybody. Is it not very unfortunate?"
He laughed a little. "I have yet to learn in what way you do not please everybody," he said, dropping his voice to a low, caressing cadence. "Who, that sees you, does not admire--and--and love you?"
She met his languorous gaze without embarrassment,--while the childlike openness of her regard confused and slightly shamed him.
"Admire me? Oh yes!" she said somewhat plaintively. "It is that of which I am so weary! Because God has made one pleasant in form and face,--to be stared at and whispered about, and have all one's dresses copied!--all that is so small and common and mean, and does vex me so much!"
"It is the penalty you pay for being beautiful," said Sir Francis slowly, wondering within himself at the extraordinary incongruity of a feminine creature who was actually tired of admiration.
She made no reply--the wheel went round faster than before. Presently Lennox set aside his emptied cup, and drawing his chair a little closer to hers, asked-"When does Errington return?"
"I cannot tell you," she answered. "He said that he might be late. Mr. Neville is with him."
There was another silence. "Lady Errington," said Sir Francis abruptly--"pray excuse me--I speak as a friend, and in your interests,--how long is this to last?"
The wheel stopped. She raised her eyes,--they were grave and steady.
"I do not understand you," she returned quietly. "What is it that you mean?"