"You heard rightly, Miss Whitburn; the only woman I ever loved jilted me, because I was not as nobly born as she was, and now----"
"I expect she's just mad with herself that she was so silly! A hundred to one it was her mother, sort of old pussy cat I shouldn't wonder. Why didn't you ask her again? I should if I were a man! I would not take no, not for Joe!" Toney was so excited that she flicked Colon with her whip and he, to show his surprise, suddenly reared and then bolted forward. The genius turned towards his terrible driver in mute appeal.
"It's all right, indeed it is, Colon's as gentle as a child, but I was thinking so much about your young--lady, that I touched him with the whip. He's awfully proud and that was his way of remonstrating. Here's the gate---- Will you hold Colon a minute, or----"
"Let me open the gate," said the genius, suiting the action to the words; not for the world would he have held that horse, his precious Stradivarius was behind him. Toney smiled, but indeed Colon stood quite quietly whilst she remarked,
"I told you he's like a lamb--but you will let me help about your friend? It will give me so muck pleasure, and I shan't feel this concert is wasted if you do."
"If I let you pay twice over?" said the genius, now quite under the spell of this extraordinary heiress, whose generosity was as surprising as her driving.
"If you and my friend don't enjoy this concert--"
"I shall do my best for your friend after your great kindness. Is it--a man?" He believed it was Toney's fiancé as her mind ran on that subject, and he felt in a soft mood, though he could not have told why.
"A man! I should think not! Mr. Russell--he helps me with my letters--he's musical, but then he doesn't think much of me!"
"His taste must be bad," said Frank, actually making a compliment. "He would have more confidence in you if you drove him back from the station." Frank Weston had forgiven her and Toney realised it with joy.
"Ouf! Here's Aldersfield House, I'm glad the drive is over. Will you promise, even if you don't like my friend, to take her in to dinner and to talk music to her? She'll love that. The other people wouldn't understand it--and you won't try it on me, will you, or on Uncle Evas? He'd want to be polite, but he wouldn't know what to answer."