Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/251

XVI] mask of a conventional placidity. 'The Man with the Iron Mask' was, no doubt, a rarity and a marvel in his own age: in modern London no one would turn his head to give him a second look! No, these were real people, When they looked pleased, it meant that they were pleased: and when Lady Muriel said, with a bright smile, "I'm very glad to see you again!", I knew that it was true.

Still I did not venture to disobey the injunctions——crazy as I felt them to be——of the love-sick young Doctor, by so much as alluding to his existence: and it was only after they had given me full details of a projected picnic, to which they invited me, that Lady Muriel exclaimed, almost as an after-thought, "and do, if you can, bring Doctor Forester with you! I'm sure a day in the country would do him good. I'm afraid he studies too much——"

It was 'on the tip of my tongue' to quote the words "His only books are woman's looks!" but I checked myself just in time with something of the feeling of one who has crossed a street, and has been all but run over by a passing 'Hansom.'