"You know why he hasn't come here," said Marjory softly.
"He spent a week with me while you were at Dieppe. He seemed to like to hear about you."
A smile of sad patience appeared on Marjory's face.
"Oh, my dear, you are such a bad hinter," she half laughed, half moaned.
"Poor Evan! I'm very sorry for him; but I can't help it, can I?"
"It would have been so nice."
"And you used to be such a mercenary creature!"
"Ah, well, my dear, I want to keep one of my children with me. But, if it can't be, it can't."
Marjory bent down and whispered in her mother's ear, "I'm not going to Omofaga, dear."
"Well, I used to be half afraid of it," admitted Lady Valentine (she forgot that she had half hoped it also); "but you never seem to be interested in him now. Do you mind Evan coming to dinner?"