258
ETHEL CHURCHILL.
notorious Jacobites. The moment Sir Robert heard the names, "Really, this is too bad!" exclaimed he in a rage, ringing a bell violently that stood by him on the table: "ladies, I can waste no more time in listening to any such nonsense. Good morning!"
There was no resource, the minister would not even look towards them, so absorbed had he suddenly become in the papers before him. The door opened; and, in another moment, they found themselves in the vestibule, where the young secretary was waiting to hand them to the carriage. He was too accustomed to discontented suitors not to see at a glance that the interview had been one of disappointment, and he was too discreet to ask any questions; a discretion, by the by, of all kinds the rarest.
