第132章

He nodded pleasantly to his wife and her cousin.But his thin, dark face wore--it generally did--a preoccupied look.Country people to whom he was pointed out in the streets called him, according to their political leanings, either insignificant, or a prig, or a "dry sort;" or sometimes said, "How young he is!" But those whose fate it was to face the Minister in the House knew that there was something in him more to be feared even than his imperturability, his honesty, or his precision--and that was a certain sudden warmth, which was apt to carry away the House at unexpected times.On one of these occasions, it was rumored, Lady Betty Champion had seen him, and fallen in love with him.Why he had thrown the handkerchief to her--well that was another matter;and whether the apparently incongruous match would answer--that, too, remained to be seen.

"More telegrams?" she cried now."It rains telegrams! how I hate them!""Why?" he said."Why should you?" He really wondered.

She made a face at him."Here is your tea," she said abruptly.

"Thank you; you are very good," he replied.He took the cup and set it down absently."Atley," he continued, speaking to the secretary, "you have not corrected the report of my speech at the Club, have you? No, I know you have had no time.Will you run your eye over it presently, and see if it is all right, and send it to the Times--I do not think I need see it--by eleven o'clock at latest.The editor," he added, tapping the pink paper in his hand, "seemed to doubt us.I have to go to Fitzgerald's now, so you must copy Lord Pilgrimstone's terms, too, please.I had meant to do it myself, but I shall be with you before you have finished.""What are the terms?" Lady Betty asked."Lord Pilgrimstone has not agreed to--""To permit me to communicate them?" he replied, with a grave smile.

"No.So you must pardon me, my dear, I have passed my word for absolute secrecy.And, indeed, it is as important to me as to Pilgrimstone that they should not be divulged.""They are sure to leak out," she retorted."They always do.""Well, it will not be through me, I hope."

She stamped her foot on the carpet."I should like to get them, and send them to the Times!" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing--he was so provoking! "And let all the world know them! I should!"He looked his astonishment, while the other two laughed softly, partly to avoid embarrassment, perhaps.My Lady often said these things, and no one took them seriously.

"You had better play the secretary for once, Lady Betty," said Atley, who was related to his chief."You will then be able to satisfy your curiosity.Shall I resign pro tem?"She looked eagerly at her husband for the third part of a second--looked for assent, perhaps.But she read no playfulness in his face, and her own fell.He was thinking about other things."No,"she said, almost sullenly, dropping her eyes to the carpet; "Ishould not spell well enough."

Soon after that they dispersed, this being Wednesday, Mr.

Stafford's day for dining out.Everyone knows that Ministers dine only twice a week in session--on Wednesday and Sunday; and Sunday is often sacred to the children where there are any, lest they should grow up and not know their father by sight.Lady Betty came into the library at a quarter to eight, and found her husband still at his desk, a pile of papers before him waiting for his signature.

As a fact, he had only just sat down, displacing his secretary, who had gone upstairs to dress.

"Stafford!" she said.

She did not seem quite at her ease, but his mind was troubled, and he failed to notice this."Yes, my dear," he answered politely, shuffling the papers before him into a heap.He knew he was late, and he could see that she was dressed."Yes, I am going upstairs this minute.I have not forgotten.""It is not that," she said, leaning with one hand on the table; "Ionly want to ask you--"

"My dear, you really must tell it to me in the carriage." He was on his feet already, making some hasty preparations."Where are we to dine? At the Duke's? Then we shall have nearly a mile to drive.Will not that do for you?" He was working hard while he spoke.There was a great oak post-box within reach, and another box for letters which were to be delivered by hand, and he was thrusting a handful of notes into each of these.Other packets he swept into different drawers of the table.Still standing, he stooped and signed his name to half a dozen letters, which he left open on the blotting-pad."Atley will see to these when he is dressed," he murmured."Would you oblige me by locking the drawers, my dear--it will save me a minute--and giving me the keys when I come down?"He was off then, two or three papers in his hand, and almost ran upstairs.Lady Betty stood a moment on the spot on which he had left her, looking in an odd way, just as if it were new to her, round the grave, spacious room, with its somber Spanish-leather-covered furniture, its ponderous writing-tables and shelves of books, its three lofty curtained windows.When her eyes at last came back to the lamp, and dwelt on it, they were very bright, and her face was flushed.Her foot could be heard tapping on the carpet.Presently she remembered herself and fell to work, vehemently slamming such drawers as were open, and locking them.

The private secretary found her doing this when he came in.She muttered something--still stooping with her face over the drawers--and almost immediately went out.He looked after her, partly because there was something odd in her manner--she kept her face averted; and partly because she was wearing a new and striking gown, and he admired her; and he noticed, as she passed through the doorway, that she had some papers held down by her side.But, of course, he thought nothing of this.

He was hopelessly late for his own dinner-party, and only stayed a moment to slip the letters just signed into envelopes prepared for them.Then he made hastily for the door, opened it, and came into abrupt collision with Sir Horace, who was strolling in.