'Ah-h!' said Peregrine, shouting angrily at the horse, as though the brute had done badly instead of well. And then he rode down slowly through the wood, and out by Monkton Grange farm, round the moat, and down the avenue, and before long he was standing at Noningsby gate.
He had not made up his mind to any plan of action, nor indeed had he determined that he would ask to see any of the family or even enter the place. The woman at the lodge opened the gate, and he rode in mechanically, asking if any of them were at home. The judge and Mr. Augustus were gone up to London, but my lady and the other ladies were in the house. Mr. Graham had not gone, the woman said in answer to his question; nor did she know when he was going. And then, armed with this information, Peregrine Orme rode round to the stables, and gave up his horse to a groom.
'Yes, Lady Staveley was at home,' the servant said at the door. 'Would Mr. Orme walk into the drawing-room, where he would find the young ladies?' But Mr. Orme would not do this. He would go into a small book-room with which he was well acquainted, and have his name taken up to Lady Staveley. 'He did not,' he said, 'mean to stay very long; but particularly wished to see Lady Staveley.' In a few minutes Lady Staveley came to him, radiant with her sweetest smile, and with both her hands held out to greet him.
'My dear Mr. Orme,' she said, 'I am delighted to see you; but what made you run away from us so suddenly?' She had considered her words in that moment as she came across the hall, and had thought that in this way she might best enable him to speak.
'Lady Staveley,' he said, 'I have come here on purpose to tell you. Has your daughter told you anything?'
'Who—Madeline?'
'Yes, Madeline. I mean Miss Staveley. Has she said anything to you about me?'
'Well; yes, she has. Will you not sit down, Mr. Orme, and then we shall be more comfortable.' Hitherto he had stood up, and had blurted out his words with a sudden, determined, and almost ferocious air,—as though he were going to demand the girl's hand, and challenge all the household if it were refused him. But Lady Staveley understood his manner and his nature, and liked him almost the better for his abruptness.
'She has spoken to me, Mr. Orme; she has told me of what passed between you on the last day that you were with us.'
'And yet you are surprised that I should have gone! I wonder at that, Lady Staveley. You must have known———'
'Well; perhaps I did know; but sit down, Mr. Orme. I won't let you get up in that restless way, if we are to talk together. Tell me frankly; what is it you think that I can do for you?'
