86 IVSTLDER'S HAJVD. «
And the young ladies parted with a kiss, and then
another.
CHAPTER XVI.
"JENNY, put the kettle on."
Old Lady Chelford, having despatched a sharp and
unceremonious message to her young kinswoman, absent
without leave, warning her, in effect, that if she returned
to the drawing-room it would be to preside, alone, over
gentlemen, departed, somewhat to our secret relief.
Upon this, on Lord Chelford's motion, in our forlorn
condition, we went to the billiard-room, and there, under
the bright lights, and the gay influence of that wonderful
game, we forgot our cares, and became excellent friends
apparently — Lord Chelford joked, Wylder "chaffed,"
even Lake seemed to enjoy himself; and the game pro-
ceeded with animation and no lack of laughter, beguiling
the watches of the night; and we were all amazed, at
length, to find how very late it was. So we laid down
our cues, with the customary ejaculations of surprise.
We declined wine and water, and all other creature com-
forts. Wylder and Lake had a walk before them, and we
bid Lord Chelford "good night" in the passage, and I
walked with them through the deserted and nearly dark-
ened rooms.
Our talk grew slow, and our spirits subsided in this
changed and tenebrose scenery. The void and the dark-
ness brought back, I suppose, my recollection of the du-
bious terms on which these young men stood, and a feel-
ing of the hollowness and delusion of the genial hours