"
Were these to awaken? They seemed to be all three talking together
in the most eager and amiable manner, quite like old times, and
Jock's bright face was full of animation. She had plenty of time for
observation, for the Colonel liked a good London dinner, and knew he
need not disturb his enjoyment to make talk for "his good little
sister." Presently, however, he began to tell her that the Goulds
and Elvira had really set out for America, and when her attention was
free again, she found that Jock had been called in by Fordham to
explain to Essie whether she had, or had not, seen Roncesvalles,
while Sydney and John were as much engrossed as ever.
So it continued all the rest of the dinner-time. Jock was talked to
by Fordham, but John never once turned to his other neighbour. In
the evening, the party divided, for it was very warm, and rather than
inconvenience the lovers of fresh air, Fordham retreated into the
inner drawing-room, where there was a fire. He had asked Babie to
bring the old numbers of the "Traveller's Joy," as he had a fancy for
making a selection of the more memorable portions, and having them
privately printed as a memorial of those bright days. Babie and
Armine were there looking them over with him, and the former would
fain have referred to Sydney, but on looking for her, saw she was out
among the flowers in the glass-covered balcony, too much absorbed
even to notice her summons.
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