'dreadful enough' to congratulate him.

Albinia knew that it must be so unpleasant to him, that she blushed
up to the roots of her hair, and could not look at anybody.

When she recovered, the first comers were taking leave, but the
second set stayed on and on till past luncheon-time, and far past her
patience, before the room was at last cleared.

Gilbert hurried in, and was received by his father with, 'You are
very much obliged to her!'

'Indeed I am,' said Gilbert, in a winning, pleasant manner.

'I don't want you to be,' said Albinia, affectionately laying her arm
on his shoulder. 'And now for luncheon--I pitied you, poor fellow; I
thought you must have been famished.'

'Anything not to have all the Drurys at luncheon,' said Gilbert,
confidentially, 'I had begun to wish myself at Tremblam.'

'By the bye,' said Mr. Kendal, waking as he sat down at the bottom of
the table, 'how was it that the Drurys did not stay to luncheon?'

'Was that what they were waiting for?' exclaimed Albinia. 'Poor
people, I had no notion of that.'

'They do have luncheon here in general,' said Mr. Kendal, as if not
knowing exactly how it came to pass.