And that same afternoon Beaufort came by himself and was admitted, no one else being in the drawing-room--no one to shield the poor lady, who could not help remembering that this stranger was the man to whom she had once given a mother's kiss, receiving him as a son. He did not forget it either. He held her hand when she gave it him, and sat down by her with an expression of satisfaction which she was very far from sharing. "At last I find you alone," he said, with a sigh of content. Poor Lady Lindores had already been so greatly tried this morning, that she felt unable to keep up the strain. Why should she be forced to put on so many semblances?
"Mr Beaufort," she cried, "I cannot pretend to be glad to see you alone. Cannot you understand? You have been wronged,--we have treated you badly,--they say it is the injured person who is always most ready to forgive; but do not ask me to go into a matter which I have tried all these years to forget."
"And yet," he said, gently, "I do not mean to reproach you, Lady Lindores."
"That may be; I do not know that _you_ have much occasion to reproach me. You were not yourself, perhaps, so much in earnest. No--I mean no reproach either; but you are a man of your century too, according to the usual slang. You don't force events, or do what is impossible. Men used to do so in the old days."
He listened to her in silence, bowing his head two or three times. "I accept your reproof," he said, a faint colour coming over his face. "I am glad you have made it,--it helps me to understand. Lady Lindores, there is something else I want to speak to you about. Lord Lindores has invited me, with Millefleurs, in August----"
"With Millefleurs, in August? Has he asked Lord Millefleurs in August?" Lady Lindores cried.
This was a great blow to Beaufort's self-opinion. He had thought, naturally, that the embarrassment of his appearance as a visitor would have overweighed everything else. He grew more red this time, with the irritated shame which follows a slight.
"Certainly he has asked him. It is ridiculous that a young man so entirely able to take care of himself should have any one in charge of him; but as the Duke has implored me to keep his son company----Here is my situation, Lady Lindores. God knows I would not thrust myself where I might--where I should be--I mean, to cause the faintest embarrassment to--any one."