, at Grasmere, by the Reverend Douglass Brooke, the
Earl of Hartfield to Mary, younger daughter of the ninth Earl of
Maulevrier.'
Lesbia was the centre of a rather noisy little court, in which Mr.
Smithson was conspicuous by his superior reserve.
He did not exert himself as a lover, paid no compliments, was not
sentimental. The pearl was won, and he wore it very quietly; but
wherever Lesbia went he went; she was hardly ever out of his sight.
Maulevrier received the coolest possible greeting. Lesbia turned pale
with anger at sight of him, for his presence reminded her of the most
humiliating passage in her life; but the big red satin sunshade
concealed that pale angry look, and nothing in Lesbia's manner betrayed
emotion.
'Where have you been hiding yourself all this time, and why were you not
at Henley?' she asked.
'I have been at Grasmere.'
'Oh, you were a witness of that most romantic marriage. The Lady of
Lyons reversed, the gardener's son turning out to be an earl. Was it
excruciatingly funny?'
'It was one of the most solemn weddings I ever saw.
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