Lady Tranmore, always nervously on the watch, moved forward at this
point, and Lord Parham, with marked and pompous suavity, transferred his
conversation to her.
Thus assured, as he thought, of a good listener, and delivered from his
uncomfortable hostess, Lord Parham crossed his legs and began to talk at
his ease. The guests round the various tea-tables converged, some
standing and some sitting, and made a circle about the great man. About
Kitty, too, who sat, equally conspicuous, dipping a biscuit in milk, and
teasing her small dog with it. Lord Parham meanwhile described to Lady
Tranmore--at wearisome length--the demonstrations which had attended his
journey south, the railway-station crowds, addresses, and so forth. He
handled the topic in a tone of jocular humility, which but slightly
concealed the vast complacency beneath. Kitty's lip twitched; she fed
Ponto hastily with all possible cakes.
"No one, of course, can keep any count of what he says on these
occasions," resumed Lord Parham, with a gracious smile. "I hope I talked
some sense--"
"Oh, but why?" said Kitty, looking up, her large fawn's eyes bent on the
speaker.
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