"You may," was the look given back by Mrs Girdwood. How could she
refuse? Had not Mr Swinton denied the Honourable Geraldine, and given
the preference to her daughter? An airing would do her good. It could
do her no harm, in the company of a lord. She was free to take it.
Mrs Girdwood signified her consent; and Julia hastened to dress for the
drive.
There was frost in the air; and she came back from her room enveloped in
costly furs.
It was a cloak of sea-otter, coquettishly trimmed, and becoming to her
dark complexion. She looked superb in it.
Swinton thought so, as with hopeful heart, but trembling hand, he
assisted her into the cabriolet!
The drive was round the Park, into Kensington Gardens, and then back to
the Clarendon.
But not till after Mr Swinton had passed along Park Lane, and stopped
at the door of a great nobleman's residence.
"It is very wude of me, Miss Girdwood," said he, "but I have a call to
make on his lawdship by appointment; and I hope yaw will kindly excuse
me?"
"By all means," said Julia, delighted with her accomplished cavalier,
who had shown himself such a skilful driver.
"One moment--I shall not allow his lordship to detain me more than a
moment."
And Swinton sprang out; surrendering the reins to his groom, already at
the horse's head.
He was true to his promise. In a short time he returned--so short, that
his lordship could scarce have done more than bid him the time of day.
In truth he had not seen the nobleman, nor intended seeing him either.
It was a counterfeit call; and went no further than a word or two
exchanged with the house steward inside the hall.
But he did not tell this to his fair companion in the cabriolet; and she
was driven back into Bond Street, and landed triumphantly at the
Clarendon, under the eyes of her mother, admiring her from the window.
When that lady had an account of the drive in general, but more
especially of the call that had been made, her respect for Mr Swinton
was still further increased. He was surely the thing sought for! And
Julia began to think so too.