And with all his desire to be
useful, he never perceived the one offer that would have been really
valuable, namely, to carry off the boy out of sight of the scene of
his disappointment.
Fordham was compelled to stay for an uncomfortable luncheon, when
there were spasmodic jerks of talk about subjects of the day to keep
up appearances before the servants, who flitted about in such an
exasperating way that their mistress secretly rejoiced to think how
soon she should be rid of the fine courier butler.
Just as the pony-carriage came round for Armine to drive his friend
back to the station, the Colonel came in, and was an astonished
spectator of the farewells.
"So that's your young lord," he said. "Poor lad! if our nobility is
made of no tougher stuff, I would not give much for it. What brought
him here?"
'Kindness—-sympathy-—" said Caroline, a little awkwardly.
"Much of that he showed," said Allen, "just knowing nothing at all
about anybody! No! If it were not so utterly ridiculous I should
think he had come to make an offer to Babie:" and as his sister flew
out of the room, "You don't mean that he has, mother?"
"Pray, don't speak of it to any one!" said Caroline. "I would not
have it known for the world. It was a generous impulse, poor dear
fellow; and Babie has no feeling for him at all.
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