ot made
himself agreeable to Alice during dinner, sat down beside her. Mr.
Scully made a rush for May. Tall, handsome Captain Hibbert, with his air
of conventional high style, quitted Lord Dungory, and asked Olive what
they had been saying since they left the dining-room. Mr. Burke tried to
join in the conversation, but Mr. Ryan, thinking it would be as well not
to let the occasion slip of speaking of a certain 'bay harse who'd jump
anythin',' took him confidentially by the sleeve.

'Now, look here, will yer,' he began. The rest of his remarks were lost
in the hum of the conversation, and by well-bred transitions
observations were made on the dancing and hunting prospects of the
season. Mr. Adair took no interest in such subjects, and to everyone's
relief he remained silent. May and Fred Scully had withdrawn to a corner
of the room where they could talk more at their ease; Captain Hibbert
was conscious of nothing but Olive and her laughter, which rippled and
tinkled through an odour of coffee.

Little by little she was gaining the attention of the room. Mr. Adair
ceased to listen to Lord Dungory, who was explaining why Leonardo da
Vinci was a greater painter than Titian. Mr. Lynch left off talking to
Alice; the little blonde honourable looked sillier and sillier as his
admiration grew upon him. Mrs. Barton, to hide her emotion, engaged in
an ardent discussion concerning the rearing of calves with Mrs. Gould.
Lady Sarah bit her lip, and, unable to endure her enemy's triumph any
longer, she said in her most mellifluous tone:

'Won't you sing us something, Captain Hibbert?'

'Well, really, Lady Sarah, I should be very glad, but I don't think, you
know--I am not sure I could manage without my music.'

'I shall be very glad to accompany you. I think I know _In the
Gloaming_, and I have heard you sing that.'

Olive, at a sign from her mother, entreated, and when the gallant
Captain rolled from under the brown-gold moustache the phrase, 'Oh, my
darling!' all strove not to look at her, and when he dropped his voice
to a whisper, and sang of his aching heart, a feeling prevailed that all
were guilty of an indiscretion in listening to such an intimate avowal.
Then he sang two songs more, equally filled with reference to tears,
blighted love, and the possibility of meeting in other years, and Olive
hung down her head, overcome by the fine sentiments which she felt were
addressed to her.

Meanwhile Alice became aware that h