"You know what I mean, dear." Lady Rowley had not intended to utter a word that should appear like pressure on her daughter at this moment. She had felt how imprudent it would be to do so. But now Nora seemed to be leading the way herself to such discourse. "Of course, he is not your Mr. Glascock. You cannot eat your cake and have it, nor can you throw it away and have it."
"I have thrown my cake away altogether, and certainly I cannot have it." She was still smiling as she spoke, and seemed to be quite merry at the idea of regarding Mr. Glascock as the cake which she had declined to eat.
"I can see one thing quite plainly, dear."
"What is that, mamma?"
"That in spite of what you have done, you can still have your cake whenever you choose to take it."
"Why, mamma, he is engaged to be married!"
"Mr. Glascock?"
"Yes, Mr. Glascock. It's quite settled. Is it not sad?"
"To whom is he engaged?" Lady Rowley's solemnity as she asked this question was piteous to behold.
"To Miss Spalding,—Caroline Spalding."