The rest of the family were seen once or twice, when passing through
London, but only in calls, which, as Babie said, were as good as
nothing, except, as she forgot to add, that they broke through the
constraint on her correspondence with Sydney.
CHAPTER XXXV. THE PHANTOM BLACKCOCK OF KILNAUGHT.
And we alike must shun regard
>From painter, player, sportsman, bard,
Wasp, blue-bottle, or butterfly,
Insects that swim in fashion's sky.
Scott.
"At home? Then take these. There's a lot more. I'll run up," said
Cecil Evelyn one October evening nearly two years later, as he thrust
into the arms of the parlour-maid a whole bouquet of game, while his
servant extracted a hamper from his cab, and he himself dashed up
stairs with a great basket of hot-house flowers.
But in the drawing-room he stood aghast, glancing round in the
firelit dusk to ascertain that he had not mistaken the number, for
though the maid at the door had a well-known face, and though tables,
chairs, and pictures were familiar, the two occupants of the room
were utter strangers, and at least as much startled as himself.
A little pale child was hurriedly put down from the lap of a tall
maiden who rose from a low chair by the fire, and stood uncertain.
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