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coming to you with a message from his lordship！ He wants to see
you。〃
〃And I came to you；〃 replied Donal； 〃to say I wanted to see his
lordship！〃
〃That's well fitted； then； sir！〃 returned Simmons。 〃I will go and
see when。 His lordship is not up； nor likely to be for some hours
yet； he is in one of his low fits this morning。 He told me you were
not quite yourself last night。〃
As he spoke his red nose seemed to examine Donal's face with a
kindly； but not altogether sympathetic scrutiny。
〃The fact is； Simmons；〃 answered Donal； 〃not being used to wine； I
fear I drank more of his lordship's than was good for me。〃
〃His lordship's wine；〃 murmured Simmons； and there checked himself。
〃How much did you drink； sirif I may make so bold？〃
〃I had one glass during dinner； and more than one； but not nearly
two； after。〃
〃Pooh！ pooh； sir！ That could never hurt a strong man like you！ You
ought to know better than that！ Look at me！〃
But he did not go on with his illustration。
〃Tut！〃 he resumed； 〃that make you sleep till ten o'clock！If you
will kindly wait in the hall； or in the schoolroom； I will bring you
his lordship's orders。〃
So saying while he washed his hands and took off his white apron；
Simmons departed on his errand to his master。 Donal went to the foot
of the grand staircase； and there waited。
As he stood he heard a light step above him； and involuntarily
glancing up； saw the light shape of lady Arctura come round the
curve of the spiral stair； descending rather slowly and very softly；
as if her feet were thinking。 She checked herself for an
infinitesimal moment； then moved on again。 Donal stood with bended
head as she passed。 If she acknowledged his obeisance it was with
the slightest return； but she lifted her eyes to his face with a
look that seemed to have in it a strange wistful troublenot very
marked； yet notable。 She passed on and vanished； leaving that look a
lingering presence in Donal's thought。 What was it？ Was it anything？
What could it mean？ Had he really seen it？ Was it there； or had he
only imagined it？
Simmons kept him waiting a good while。 He had found his lordship
getting up； and had had to stay to help him dress。 At length he
came； excusing himself that his lordship's temper at such
timesthat was； in his dumpy fitswas not of the evenest； and
required a gentle hand。 But his lordship would see himand could
Mr。 Grant find the way himself； for his old bones ached with running
up and down those endless stone steps？ Donal answered he knew the
way； and sprang up the stair。
But his mind was more occupied with the coming interview than with
the way to it； which caused him to take a wrong turn after leaving
the stair： he had a good gift in space…relations； but instinct was
here not so keen as on a hill…side。 The consequence was that he
found himself in the picture…gallery。
A strange feeling of pain； as at the presence of a condition he did
not wish to encourage； awoke in him at the discovery。 He walked
along； however； thus taking； he thought； the readiest way to his
lordship's apartment： either he would find him in his bedroom； or
could go through that to his sitting…room！ He glanced at the
pictures he passed； and seemed； strange to say； though； so far as he
knew； he had never been in the place except in the dark； to
recognize some of them as belonging to the stuff of the dream in
which he had been wandering through the nightonly that was a
glowing and gorgeous dream； whereas the pictures were even
commonplace！ Here was something to be meditated uponbut for the
present postponed！ His lordship was expecting him！
Arrived； as he thought； at the door of the earl's bedroom； he
knocked； and receiving no answer； opened it； and found himself in a
narrow passage。 Nearly opposite was another door； partly open； and
hearing a movement within； he ventured to knock there。 A voice he
knew at once to be lady Arctura's； invited him to enter。 It was an
old； lovely； gloomy little room； in which sat the lady writing。 It
had but one low lattice…window； to the west； but a fire blazed
cheerfully in the old…fashioned grate。 She looked up； nor showed
more surprise than if he had been a servant she had rung for。
〃I beg your pardon； my lady；〃 he said： 〃my lord wished to see me；
but I have lost my way。〃
〃I will show it you；〃 she answered； and rising came to him。
She led him along the winding narrow passage； pointed out to him the
door of his lordship's sitting…room； and turned awayagain； Donal
could not help thinking； with a look as of some anxiety about him。
He knocked； and the voice of the earl bade him enter。
His lordship was in his dressing…gown； on a couch of faded satin of
a gold colour； against which his pale yellow face looked cadaverous。
〃Good morning； Mr。 Grant；〃 he said。 〃I am glad to see you better！〃
〃I thank you； my lord；〃 returned Donal。 〃I have to make an apology。
I cannot understand how it was； except； perhaps； that； being so
little accustomed to strong drink；〃
〃There is not the smallest occasion to say a word；〃 interrupted his
lordship。 〃You did not once forget yourself； or cease to behave like
a gentleman！〃
〃Your lordship is very kind。 Still I cannot help being sorry。 I
shall take good care in the future。〃
〃It might be as well；〃 conceded the earl； 〃to set yourself a
limitnecessarily in your case a narrow one。Some constitutions
are so immediately responsive！〃 he added in a murmur。 〃The least
exhibition of！But a man like you； Mr。 Grant；〃 he went on aloud；
〃will always know to take care of himself！〃
〃Sometimes； apparently； when it is too late！〃 rejoined Donal。 〃But I
must not annoy your lordship with any further expression of my
regret！〃
〃Will you dine with me to…night？〃 said the earl。 〃I am lonely now。
Sometimes； for months together； I feel no need of a companion： my
books and pictures content me。 All at once a longing for society
will seize me； and that longing my health will not permit me to
indulge。 I am not by nature unsociablemuch the contrary。 You may
wonder I do not admit my own family more freely； but my wretched
health makes me shrink from loud voices and abrupt motions。〃
〃But lady Arctura！〃 thought Donal。 〃Your lordship will find me a
poor substitute； I fear；〃 he said； 〃for the society you would like。
But I am at your lordship's service。〃
He could not help turning with a moment's longing and regret to his
tower…nest and the company of his books and thoughts； but he did not
feel that he had a choice。
CHAPTER XXXII。
THE SECOND DINNER WITH THE EARL。
He went as before； conducted by the butler； and formally announced。
To his surprise； with the earl was lady Arctura。 His lordship made
him give her his arm； and followed。
This was to Donal a very different dinner from that of the evening
before。 Whether the presence of his niece made the earl rouse
himself to be agreeable； or he had grown better since the morning
and his spirits had risen； certainly he was not like the same man。
He talked in a rather forced…playful way； but told two or three good
stories； described with vivacity some of the adventures of his
youth； spoke of several great men he had met；