'
'You are trying, I suppose, to account for your unfortunate error at
Cleverley's, on Monday, Squib?' said Lord Darrell, laughing.
'Pooh! all nonsense.'
'What was it?' said Mr. Annesley.
'Not a word true,' said Lord Squib, stifling curiosity.
'I believe it,' said the Duke, without having heard a syllable. 'Come,
Darrell, out with it!'
'It really is nothing very particular, only it is whispered that Squib
said something to Lady Clever-ley which made her ring the bell, and
that he excused himself to his Lordship by protesting that, from their
similarity of dress and manner and strong family likeness, he had
mistaken the Countess for her sister.'
_Omnes_. 'Well done, Squib! And were you introduced to the right
person?'
'Why,' said his Lordship, 'fortunately I contrived to fall out about the
settlements, and so I escaped.'
'So the chaste Diana is to be the new patroness?' said Lord Darrell.
'So I understand,' rejoined Mr. Annesley. 'This is the age of unexpected
appointments.'
'_On dit_ that when it was notified to the party most interested, there
was a rider to the bill, excluding my Lord's relations.
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