"_Au revoir_ then, Miss Whitburn, I prefer saying that---- Mother, I really think----" Lady Southbourne always obeyed her son and rose immediately.
"So delighted to have seen you not looking a bit tired after your delightful party," she said to Toney, keeping her hand affectionately in her lavender kid, "I wish we could stay longer---- Now why not come over and spend a few days at the Towers? Wouldn't that be delightful, Edward?"
"Afraid I can't, thanks; besides, I shouldn't know what to do, and at Aldersfield I've got heaps waiting to be settled."
"Of course we mustn't be selfish," said Lady Southbourne, not taking any notice of Toney's reason for not going to the Towers!
At last they were off, followed by the most gracious remarks of Lady Dove as Toney flew back to her own room.
There she found not only Dr. and Mrs. Harris, Mr. and Miss Smith, and Captain Grant, but also Lewis and Mrs. Faber assisting the visitors to make a square meal; whilst Mr. Russell was tabulating them, every now and then making a dart at one of the individuals to get special answers.
"This is nice! How kind of you, Mr. Waycott. Lady Southbourne and the Honourable Edward took so long to go I had to give him a hint."
"Oh, Toney! what did you say?" said Mrs. Faber.
"Why I asked him to go and he went. It's better to speak honest, isn't it?--Dr. Harris, have some more veal pie. Our cook is just perfect at veal pies."
Dr. Harris said he didn't mind if he did have some more, but at that moment Mr. Russell made a dart at Miss Smith.
"What is the date of your birth, Miss Smith?"
Now Miss Smith's age was a hid treasure, and to be asked to dig it up in this public way was more than she could bear. She blushed a vivid purple.
"It's of no consequence whatever, Mr. Russell," she said. "I really have forgotten my birthday." Mr. Russell went back and put down "birthday forgotten."
"But the year?" he asked again, feeling his whole _raison d'être_ depended on that date.
"Let me see--What year were you born, brother?"
Mr. Smith blinked very often as he answered, wishing to spare his sister.
"I think I had better send you these particulars--if there is--any good to be got by them."
"Oh, never mind," said Toney, seeing the difficulty. "Mr. Russell, please put 'Uncertain.' It isn't easy to remember, if you are asked suddenly how old one is, is it, Mr. Waycott?" Lewis was stifling a smile.