“Lord, no!”

“Well, you’re so unobservant.”

“Oh, not always. I’ve observed that your—”

“Please don’t! It’s no use, is it?”

I looked very unhappy. There is an understanding that I am very unhappy since Miss Foster’s engagement to the Earl of Mickleham was announced.

“What was I saying before—before you—you know—oh, about Phil Meadows, of course. I did like him very much, you know, or I shouldn’t have taken all that trouble. Why, his own mother thanked me!”

“I have no more to say,” said I.

“But she wrote me a horrid letter afterward.”

“You’re so very elliptical.”

“So very what, Mr. Carter?”