Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/124

116 116 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. again ? " " I am afraid I am going away." " Oh, I am so very sorry," said Miss Molyneux. " I think that's so very wrong of you." Lord Warburton watched this little passage ; then he turned away and stared at a picture. Ralph, leaning against the rail before the picture, with his hands in his pockets, had for the moment been watching him. " I should like to see you at home," said Henrietta, whom Lord Warburton found beside him. " I should like an hour's talk with you ; there are a great many questions I wish to ask you." " I shall be delighted to see you," the proprietor of Lockleigh answered ; " but I am certain not to be able to answer many of your questions. When will you come?" " Whenever Miss Archer will take me. We are thinking of going to London, but we will go and see you first. I am determined to get some satisfaction out of you." "If it depends upon Miss Archer, I am afraid you won't get much. She will not come to Lockleigh ; she doesn't like the place." " She told me it was lovely ! " said Henrietta. Lord Warburton hesitated a moment. " She won't come, all the same. You had better come alone," he added. Henrietta straightened herself, and her large eyes expanded. " Would you make that remark to an English lady ] " she inquired, with soft asperity. Lord Warburton stared. " Yes, if I liked her enough." " You would be careful not to like her enough. If Miss Archer won't visit your place again, it's because she doesn't want to take me. I know what she thinks of me, and I suppose you think the same that I oughtn't to bring in individuals." Lord Warburton was at a loss ; he had not been made acquainted with Miss Stackpole's professional character, and did not catch her allusion. " Miss Archer has been warning you ! " she went on. " Warning me 1 " " Isn't that why she came off alone with you here to put you on your guard 1 " " Oh, dear no," said Lord Warburton, blushing ; " our talk had no such solemn character as that."