"Oh yes; you speak so many languages!" said his younger sister.
"I certainly do not consider myself an old Indian," said the man addressed as Errington, "though I have visited it more than once."
"You an Indian!" cried Ormonde. "Why, you have just started as an English country gentleman. We are to have Errington for a comrade on the bench and in the field down in Clayshire. His father has bought Garston Hall--quite close to Melford, Lady Alice. But I suppose you know all about it."
"Yes," said Lady Alice, in a tone which might be affirmation or interrogation. "There are such pretty walks in Garston Woods!"
"Errington was born with a silver spoon in his mouth," returned Ormonde. "Garston dwarfs Castleford, I can tell you. It was a good deal out of repair--the Hall I mean?"
"It is. We do not expect to get it into thorough repair till winter. Then I hope, Mrs. Burnett, you will honor us by a visit," said Errington.
"With the greatest pleasure," exclaimed the hostess.
"And oh, Mr. Errington, do give a ball!" cried Fanny, the second daughter.
"I fear that is beyond my powers. I do not think I ever danced in my life."
"Are you to be of the party on board Lord Melford's yacht?" asked Ormonde, speaking to Lady Alice.
"Oh no. I am to stay with Aunt Harriet at the Rectory all the summer."
"Ah, that is too bad. You'd like sailing about, I dare say?"
"Oh, yachting must be the most delightful thing in the world," cried Mrs. Liddell, from her place opposite. "If I were you I should coax my father to let me go."
"Papa knows best. I am very fond of the Rectory," said Lady Alice, blushing at being so publicly addressed.
"And _you_ understand the beauty of obedience," said Errington, with grave approval.
"Now, if you intend to see the whole 'fun of the fair,'" said Mrs. Burnett, "you had better be going, young people. The carriage is to come back for us after setting you down at the theatre. Who are going? My girls, Lady Alice, and Mrs. Liddell? Who is to be their escort? Colonel Ormonde?"
He glanced across the table. Mrs. Liddell sent no glance in his direction; she again devoted her attention to Kirby.
"No, thank you. To be intensely amused from two to six is more than I can stand; besides, I hope to meet you at Lady Maclean's this afternoon."