"How in the world are people to know that you and I are engaged; and even if they did, what would they care about either me or Molly? We are nothing to Sir Edward."
"Ah, true, I forgot that. But you know what country places are, Doris; and I wouldn't mind betting five pounds that before you have been in the room half an hour the fact of our engagement will have leaked out."
"Do you know much of this Sir Edward?" inquires Doris after a pause. "Is he married? Some say he is, some say he isn't."
"I don't think he is," says Lancelot slowly. "I fancy I heard something about his being engaged, though."
"O, what a pity!"
"Why, Doris?"
"Because I thought he would have done nicely for Honor, or Molly perhaps."
"It strikes me there are two people who would strongly object to such an arrangement," says Mr. Ferrars, leaning back in his chair and smiling at Doris. "I don't think Dr. Sinclair would care about it, nor young Horton."
Doris opens her eyes.
"Hugh!" she says with astonishment in her voice. "Why, nothing has been said about these two, Lancelot."