"It means mutual
regard and esteem," replied Mr. Kennedy in his most solemn tone,
"and I trust that such mutual regard and esteem between us may yet
be possible." When Lady Laura showed him a letter from her brother,
received some weeks after this conversation, in which Lord Chiltern
expressed his intention of coming to Loughlinter for Christmas, he
returned the note to his wife without a word. He suspected that she
had made the arrangement without asking him, and was angry; but he
would not tell her that her brother would not be welcome at his
house. "It is not my doing," she said, when she saw the frown on his
brow.
"I said nothing about anybody's doing," he replied.
"I will write to Oswald and bid him not come, if you wish it. Of
course you can understand why he is coming."
"Not to see me, I am sure," said Mr. Kennedy.
"Nor me," replied Lady Laura. "He is coming because my friend Violet
Effingham will be here."
"Miss Effingham! Why was I not told of this? I knew nothing of Miss
Effingham's coming."
"Robert, it was settled in your own presence last July."
"I deny it."
Then Lady Laura rose up, very haughty in her gait and with something
of fire in her eye, and silently left the room. Mr. Kennedy, when he
found himself alone, was very unhappy.
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