Certainly she does not
look fit to enter upon evening gaiety, and Lady Verner in addressing her
son, "You will go with me, Lionel," proved that she never so much as
cast a thought to the improbability that Sibylla would venture thither.
"If--you--particularly wish it, mother," was Lionel's reply, spoken with
hesitation.
"Do you not wish to go?" rejoined Lady Verner.
"I would very much prefer not," he replied.
"Nonsense, Lionel! I don't think you have gone out once since you left
Verner's Pride. Staying at home won't mend matters. I _wish_ you to go
with me; I shall make a point of it."
Lady Verner spoke with some irritation, and Lionel said no more. He
supposed he must acquiesce.
It was no long-timed invitation of weeks. The cards arrived on the
Monday, and the _fete_ was for the following Thursday. Lionel thought no
more about it; he was not as the ladies, whose toilettes would take all
of that time to prepare. On the Wednesday, Decima took him aside.
"Lionel, do you know that Mrs. Verner intends to go to-morrow evening?"
Lionel paused; paused from surprise.
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