"Oh, Captain Lovelace! Have you come to fetch me back to my seat? I havescarce set eyes on you this evening. No, Markham, you may _not_ come!No, nor you, my lord! Madam--" She curtsied low to the old Duchess andwalked away on Harold's arm.
When they were once in the deserted passage behind the boxes, he turnedeagerly towards her.
"Well, my dearest? Well?"
Lady Lavinia's mouth drooped miserably.
"Yes," she said, "I shall have to come with you."
The tone was damping, to say the least of it, but he did not seem tonotice it.
"Lavinia! You mean it?"
"Yes," she assented, still more dejectedly.
"My beautiful love! You will really come? When? At once?"
"At--Oh, no, no!"
"Darling, the sooner the better. I understand 'tis a great step toexpect you to take in a hurry, but I assure you 'tis wisest. Can youcome to-morrow?"
Her big eyes dilated.
"No! No! I--oh, I cannot leave Dicky so soon!" She ended with a sob.
"But, Lavinia, my dearest! You surely do not want to _stay_ with him?"he cried.
"Yes I do!" she answered. "I--I don't want ever to leave him!"
This blighting speech left him gasping.
"You--but--heavens! what are you saying? You love _me_!"
"No, I don't!" she contradicted. "I always s-said I d-didn't. I love myhusband!"
"You are distraught!" he exclaimed. "If you love him, why do you consentto elope with me?"
She looked at him reproachfully.
"There is no one else," she said mournfully.
"Good Lord! What--"
"I have to elope with someone--because--Dick--d-doesn't love me anymore--you see. I will come with you, and I will try to be good."
He kissed her hand quickly
"Sweetheart! ... I still think you are not yourself. You will thinkdifferently to-morrow--you do not really love Carstares."
She shut her mouth obstinately, tilting her regal little head.
He watched her anxiously.
"If you really do love him, 'tis ridiculous to elope with me," he said.
Her fingers tightened on his wrist.
"But I must! You don't understand, Harry! You _must_ take me! Don't youwant me?"