When she had made her
little joke about his future ministerial duties the servant had been
in the room, and he had not, therefore, stopped her by a serious
answer. And now she was solicitous about his dinner,--anxious that
he should enjoy the good things set before him, as is the manner of
loving women, pressing him to take wine, and playing the good hostess
in all things. He smiled, and ate, and drank, and was gracious
under her petting; but he had a weight on his bosom, knowing, as
he did, that he must say that before long which would turn all
her playfulness either to anger or to grief. "And who had you at
Matching?" she asked.
"Just the usual set."
"Minus the poor old Duke?"
"Yes; minus the old Duke certainly. The greatest change is in the
name. Lady Glencora was so specially Lady Glencora that she ought to
have been Lady Glencora to the end. Everybody calls her Duchess, but
it does not sound half so nice."
"And is he altered?"
"Not in the least. You can trace the lines of lingering regret upon
his countenance when people be-Grace him; but that is all.
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