But Dolly feigned not to understand, at
the penalty of many a heart-pang.
The dinner went on with a very merry sound, and a genuine strength of
enjoyment, such as hearty folk have who know one another, and are met
together not to cut capers of wit, but refresh their goodwill and fine
principles. And if any dinner party can be so arranged that only five
per cent. has any trouble on its mind, the gentleman who whips away the
plates, at a guinea a mouth, will have to go home with a face of willow
pattern.
The other whose mind was away from her food, and reckless of its own
nourishment, was Blyth Scudamore's mother, as gentle a lady as ever
tried never to think of herself. In spite of all goodness, and faith in
the like, she had enough to make her very miserable now, whenever she
allowed herself to think about it, and that was fifty-nine minutes
out of sixty. For a brief account of her son's escape from Etaples had
reached her, through the kindness of Captain Desportes, who found means
to get a letter delivered to the Admiral. That brave French officer
spoke most highly of the honourable conduct of his English friend, but
had very small hope of his safety. For he added the result of his own
inquiries to the statement of M. Jalais, and from these it was clear
that poor Scuddy had set forth alone in a rickety boat, ill found and
ill fitted to meet even moderate weather in the open Channel. Another
young Englishman had done the like, after lurking in the forest of
Hardelot, but he had been recaptured by the French at the outset of his
hopeless voyage.
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