"I hope you are going to give us a real old-fashioned Christmas
evening, Mr. Dale," said Miss Graham.
"I don't quite know what you mean by an old-fashioned Christmas
evening."
"Nor am I quite clear as to whether I know what I mean myself,"
answered the young lady, gaily. "I think, after dinner, we ought to sit
round that noble old fire-place and tell stories, ought we not?"
"Yes, I believe that is the sort of thing," replied the rector. "For my
own part, I am ready to be Miss Graham's slave for the whole of the
evening; and in that capacity will hold myself bound to perform her
behests, however tyrannical she may be."
When dinner was announced, Lionel Dale was obliged to leave the
bewitching Lydia in order to offer his arm to Mrs. Mordaunt, while that
young lady was fain to be satisfied with the escort of the disinherited
Sir Reginald Eversleigh.
At the dinner-table, however, she found herself seated on the left hand
of her host; and she took care to secure to herself the greater share
of his attention during the progress of dinner.
Gordon Graham watched his sister from his place near the foot of the
table, and was well satisfied with her success.
"If she plays her cards well she may sit at the head of this table next
Christmas-day," he said to himself.
After less than half-an-hour's interval, the gentlemen followed the
ladies into the drawing-room, and the usual musical evening set in.
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