Of course, Jack accepted gladly enough, without a thought of Lady Bell, and only remembering that a good nag would take him from Earl's Court to Hurst in an hour and a half, or less.
The week passed rapidly, and with something like restlessness Lady Bell organized all kinds of outings and expeditions, in all of which Jack's services were found to be indispensable.
He could not exactly tell how it happened; but he seemed to spend almost as much time with Lady Bell as with Una. Now it was to go and try a horse which Lady Bell wanted to buy; then to select some dogs to take down to Earl's Court; and, again, to buy and send down pony-carriages and dog-carts.
There was always something to take him to Park Lane, and though Jack felt inclined to kick at these demands upon his time, which would otherwise have been spent near Una, he could not see his way to refuse. Then he was fond of buying horses, and dogs, and carriages, and used to hold a _levee_ at Spider Court of disreputable-looking men in fustian corduroys, much to Leonard Dagle's disgust.
"It seems to me, Jack," he said, "that you have become Lady Bell's grand vizier. Do you choose her dress for her?"
"Chaff away, old man," said Jack. "It was only the other day that you were badgering me with being cool to her."
"Yes, with a purpose," said Leonard; "but that purpose has disappeared. Have you been to the Square yet this morning?"
"No; I'm going now. No, I can't, confound it! I promised to see to the harness for the pair of ponies Lady Bell bought."
"How Miss Una must love Lady Bell," he said, ironically.
"So she does," said Jack, sharply. "Now don't pretend to be cynical, Len. You know as well as I do that I would spend every hour of my life by Una's side if I could; but what can I do?"
"All right!" said Len, and he fell to work again.
Strangely enough now, that Jack was so much occupied with Lady Bell's affairs, Stephen happened to find more leisure to visit his mother, and very often he accompanied her and Una to some concert or picture-gallery to which Jack was prevented from going. Stephen seemed, in addition, quite changed, and had become quite the man of pleasure in contrast to his former habits.
He rarely appeared at the Square without a nosegay or a new novel; he took the greatest interest in any subject which interested Una, and was as attentive to her as if he had been the most devoted of lovers. Now that Jack was so much absent, it was he who sat opposite her in the little brougham, who leaned over her chair at the theater, or rode beside her in the Row.