“I beg your pardon,” Victoria said, lightly. “I only asked because my mother is so very indiscreet. She makes me quite giddy sometimes. One meets such very queer people in this house—the Ladies’ Journal, for instance.”
“Meaning?”
“Oh, don’t you know? It’s what we call Mr. Despencer behind his back. He is so well informed, you know, on certain subjects.”
“I wonder what you call me behind my back.”
“Oh, we think very highly of you, I can tell you. I believe my mother is quite anxious that I should marry you.”
“Let me see, I rather fancy I am engaged just now, but I shall be charmed to break it off.”
“I hope Alderman Dobbin will approve of me.”
Hammond affected to shake his head in doubt.
“You will have to satisfy him as to your moral character.”
“That will be rather difficult,” Victoria admitted. “Perhaps you had better not let him know that I cycle.” She glanced down at her costume as she spoke. “But I must really go and put on decent things before anybody else comes, or the alderman may hear of it. We shall see you at the concert, I suppose?”