Page:The Semi-attached Couple.djvu/115

 "Yes, here is an account of the wedding in the paper," said Lady Teviot.

"What, already! Well, I have shown my discretion. I take you all to witness I never said he was going to be married?"

"Did you know it?" said Ernest.

"Of course I did, because the Wyndhams are my second cousins—at least, we are connected somehow; but now I have another piece of news about Reginald Stuart."

Lord Beaufort could not resist a look at Mary. She seemed quite calm.

"I am so vexed about Stuart, as you may well guess. He is such a dear creature, and he has actually gone off to Scotland with that dancing girl, Pauline Le Gay. I am sorry for him, and still more for myself. It will put me into such an awkward position as to visiting her. He is actually married by this time."

"I doubt it," said Lord Teviot, quietly.

"I wish I could," said Lady Portmore, with a deep sigh; "but there is no use keeping his secret any longer."

"Not the least, unless you mean to let him have the pleasure of telling it himself. He will be here to-day."

"Stuart here! Then he is coming at last. I thought he would—I made such a point of it; but he will marry that horrid girl at last, you will see."

"There is one strong reason against it."

"You would not think so if you were in his confidence," said Lady Portmore, most mysteriously.

"To a certain degree I am," said Lord Teviot, "for he tells me here 'That fool Reid has actually carried the Paulina off to Scotland, and took the precaution to change his name for fear of pursuit, though who was to run after them except her dancing-master remains a mystery. However, he has cleared me of the odium of being supposed to