He had never said anything to that
effect, and no one dared allude to it in his presence, much less
rally him on his weakness; but his passion was well known for all
that, and it seemed by no means so hopeless to the younger members
of the domestic staff as it did to the cook, the butler, and
Bashville himself. Miss Carew, who knew the value of good servants,
appreciated her footman's smartness, and paid him accordingly; but
she had no suspicion that she was waited on by a versatile young
student of poetry and public affairs, distinguished for his
gallantry, his personal prowess, his eloquence, and his influence on
local politics.
It was Bashville who now entered the library with a salver, which he
proffered to Alice, saying, "The gentleman is waiting in the round
drawing-room, miss."
Alice took the gentleman's card, and read, "Mr. Wallace Parker."
"Oh!" she said, with vexation, glancing at Bashville as if to divine
his impression of the visitor. "My cousin--the one we were speaking
of just now--has come to see me."
"How fortunate!" said Lydia. "He will tell me the meaning of pug.
Ask him to lunch with us."
"You would not care for him," said Alice. "He is not much used to
society.
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