'
'It is not on that account, indeed,' Elfride expostulated. 'It is
that her arm has got thin, poor thing. You cannot think how much
she has altered in this last twelvemonth.'
The carriages were now nearer together, and there was an exchange
of more familiar greetings between the two families. Then the
Luxellians crossed over and drew up under the plane-trees, just in
the rear of the Swancourts. Lord Luxellian alighted, and came
forward with a musical laugh.
It was his attraction as a man. People liked him for those tones,
and forgot that he had no talents. Acquaintances remembered Mr.
Swancourt by his manner; they remembered Stephen Smith by his
face, Lord Luxellian by his laugh.
Mr. Swancourt made some friendly remarks--among others things upon
the heat.
'Yes,' said Lord Luxellian, 'we were driving by a furrier's window
this afternoon, and the sight filled us all with such a sense of
suffocation that we were glad to get away. Ha-ha!' He turned to
Elfride. 'Miss Swancourt, I have hardly seen or spoken to you
since your literary feat was made public. I had no idea a chiel
was taking notes down at quiet Endelstow, or I should certainly
have put myself and friends upon our best behaviour. Swancourt,
why didn't you give me a hint!'
Elfride fluttered, blushed, laughed, said it was nothing to speak
of, &c. &c.
'Well, I think you were rather unfairly treated by the PRESENT, I
certainly do.
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