Blanchesaidit。Anne’seyesfastenedonherface，withonelong，yearninglook，andthenAnne’shandsuddenlydroppedhers。
Sheranoutoftheroom，moreagitated，moreuneasy，thanshelikedtoconfesstoherself。NeverhadshefeltsocertainoftheurgentnecessityofappealingtoSirPatrick’sadviceasshefeltatthatmoment。
Theguestswerestillsafeattheluncheon-tablewhenBlancheenteredthedining-room。
LadyLundieexpressedthenecessarysurprise，intheproperlygraduatedtoneofreproof，atherstep-daughter’swantofpunctuality。Blanchemadeherapologieswiththemostexemplaryhumility。Sheglidedintoherchairbyheruncle’sside，andtookthefirstthingthatwasofferedtoher。SirPatricklookedathisniece，andfoundhimselfinthecompanyofamodelyoungEnglishMiss——andmarveledinwardlywhatitmightmean。
Thetalk，interruptedforthemomenttopics，PoliticsandSport——andthen，whenachangewaswanted，SportandPolitics，wasresumedagainallroundthetable。Undercoveroftheconversation，andintheintervalsofreceivingtheattentionsofthegentlemen，BlanchewhisperedtoSirPatrick，“Don’tstart，uncle。Anneisinthelibrary。“PoliteMr。Smithofferedsomeham。Gratefullydeclined。“Pray，pray，praygotoher；sheiswaitingtoseeyou——sheisindreadfultrouble。“GallantMr。