"A fallible mortal," he said, "is met by a temptation which he can not
possibly resist. If he is a wise mortal, also, what does he do?"
"He eats some of My cake," said the prosaic Lady Lundie.
"No!" said Sir Patrick, with a look of unutterable devotion directed at
his sister-in-law.
"He flies temptation, dear lady--as I do now." He bowed, and escaped,
unsuspected, from the room.
Lady Lundie cast down her eyes, with an expression of virtuous
indulgence for human frailty, and divided Sir Patrick's compliment
modestly between herself and her cake.
Well aware that his own departure from the table would be followed in a
few minutes by the rising of the lady of the house, Sir Patrick hurried
to the library as fast as his lame foot would let him. Now that he was
alone, his manner became anxious, and his face looked grave. He entered
the room.
Not a sign of Anne Silvester was to be seen any where. The library was a
perfect solitude.
"Gone!" said Sir Patrick. "This looks bad."
After a moment's reflection he went back into the hall to get his hat.
It was possible that she might have been afraid of discovery if
she staid in the library, and that she might have gone on to the
summer-house by herself.
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