"Oh, come now, I say, Mrs. Fanshaw!"
"It's no use trying to be serious with her, Jeremy. We'll read all about it when she's gone."
"Yes, all right. But to think——! Well, I'm dining here, aren't I?"
"Oh, yes," said Christine reassuringly.
"Christine, you're very impertinent. Yes, of course, Jeremy, and we'll discuss it then. Why don't you find Eva? She's in the library, I think."
"Oh, is she? Then I—I might as well, mightn't I?" He spoke listlessly, almost reluctantly. And he did not leave the room by a straight path, but drifted out of it with an accidental air, fingering a book or two and a nick-nack or two on his devious way. Christine's eyes followed his erratic course with keen amusement.
"You wicked woman!" she said to Kate as the door closed. "You might have given him one afternoon to dedicate to the memory of Miss Dora—what was her name?"
"She was the rector's daughter down at Milldean. Well, I'm really glad. I fancy she was a flighty girl, Christine."
"Oh dear me, I hope not," said Christine gravely. "What an escape for the poor dear boy!"
"You shan't put me out of temper," beamed Kate Raymore.