“Except perhaps Don Quixote, or even King Cophetua,” added Leo.
“King Cophetua,” repeated Reuben in a slow, reflective tone, as the door closed on Mr. Lee-Harrison; “King Cophetua had an assured position. It isn’t every one that can afford to marry beggar-maids.”
CHAPTER IX.
Never by passion quite possessed,
And never quite benumbed by the world’s sway.
Matthew Arnold.
The party was never prolonged to a late hour on these occasions, and by ten o’clock there was no one left in the drawing-room in Portland Place except Mrs. Sachs, Mr. Leuniger, Mrs. Kohnthal and the young people in their respective trains.
The elders had got up a game of whist for the amusement of old Solomon, the termination of which their juniors awaited in conclave at the other end of the room.
Lionel and Sidney meanwhile, sleepy and overfed, quarrelled in a corner over the possession of a bound volume of the Graphic.
“Judith,” said Reuben, who had taken a seat opposite her, “do you know that you have made a conquest?”
“Is that such an unheard-of occurrence?”
Reuben laughed gently, and Rose cried: