“I mean she says she—she can imagine——” Norah’s smile grew a little more pronounced. “I’m not sure she’d like me to repeat that,” said Norah. “And of course she doesn’t know I’m here at all—and you must never tell her.”
“Of course it’s all my fault. Still, as a matter of curiosity, what did you say to her?”
“I said that, if she had a good case, she ought to go to law; and, if she hadn’t, she ought to stop making herself ridiculous and the rest of us uncomfortable.”
“You spoke with the general assent of the company?”
“I said what I thought—yes, I think they all agreed—but she took it—well, in the way I’ve told you, you know.”
Lady Norah had, in the course of conversation, insensibly advanced on to the terrace. She stood there now beside Lynborough.
“How do you think I’m taking it?” he asked. “Doesn’t my fortitude wring applause from you?”
“Taking what?”
“Exactly the same thing from my friends. They tell me to go to law if I’ve got a case—and at any rate to stop persecuting a lady. And they’ve both given me warning.”
“Mr Stabb and Mr Wilbraham? They’re going away?”