This latter proceeding was, however, hardly more than a bravado; for he merely took the opportunity of asking Mrs.Runciman a question at the bar, and then walked back to his own house, and shut himself up in the office.
On the next morning he called on Reginald Morton and told him that his daughter had accepted Lady Ushant's invitation, but could not go till the 18th.

"I shall be proud to take charge of her," said Reginald.

"And as for the change in the day it will suit me all the better." So that was settled.
On the next day, Friday, Mrs.Masters did not come down to breakfast, but was waited upon upstairs by her own daughters.

This with her was a most unusual circumstance.

The two maids were of opinion that such a thing had never occurred before, and that therefore Masters must have been out half the night at the public-house although they had not known it.