“Oh yes, Lady Victoria, I am very earnest. Everybody says I am very earnest. I take life quite seriously—I do, indeed. I go to all sorts of lectures and that kind of thing, you know, to improve my mind.”
“You will have to be careful, then,” put in Hammond as he came up, “or they will make you give them a testimonial, and advertise you in all the papers as a marvellous cure.”
Mr. Jones shrank back.
“Ah, now, Hammond, I am afraid of you, because you are so sarcastic. He was sarcastic then, wasn’t he, Lady Victoria?”
“Not very,” replied the person appealed to. The next instant she gave an imperceptible start.
“Captain Mauleverer!”
“But if you two are going to quarrel I shall go into the next room,” Victoria went on, quickly, beginning to move away.
“Oh no, Lady Victoria,” Mr. Jones remonstrated; “I never quarrel. I am a subscriber to the Peace Society—I really am.”
The Dean of Colchester looked round.
“Then I can leave you in perfect safety,” retorted Victoria, gliding off.