Nothing else would have
induced him to be absent. So it happened that the three
fellow-travellers had to dine together, utterly weary of
themselves and of each other. Captain Grouse was never more
wanted; he would have amused Lord Marney, relieved his wife
and brother, reported all that had been said and done in their
neighbourhood during their absence, introduced a new tone, and
effected a happy diversion. Leaving Mowbray, detained at the
station, Grouse away, some disagreeable letters, or letters
which an ill-humoured man chooses to esteem disagreeable,
seemed to announce a climax. Lord Marney ordered the dinner
to be served in the small dining-room, which was contiguous to
a saloon in which Lady Marney, when they were alone, generally
passed the evening.
The dinner was silent and sombre; happily it was also short.
Lord Marney tasted several dishes, ate of none; found fault
with his own claret, though the butler had given him a choice
bottle; praised Lord Mowbray's, wondered where he got it, "all
the wines at Mowbray were good;" then for the twentieth time
wondered what could have induced Grouse to fix the cricket
match the day he returned home, though he chose to forget that
he had never communicated to Grouse even the probable day on
which he might be expected.
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