"Your society." He blushed up to his eyes as he heard this. "Now that, I think, is a very pretty speech, and I expect something equally pretty from you." He was much embarrassed, but was at the moment delivered from his embarrassment by the entrance of his wife. "Here she is," said Mrs. Houghton, getting up from her chair.
"We have been just talking about you, my dear. If you have come for bagatelle, you must play with Lord George, for Jack De Baron isn't here."
"But I haven't come for bagatelle."
"So much the better, for I doubt whether Lord George would be very good at it. I have been made to play so much that I hate the very sound of the balls."
"I didn't expect to find you here," said Mary, turning to her husband.
"Nor I you, till Mrs. Houghton said that you were coming."
After that there was nothing of interest in their conversation. Jack did not come, and after a few minutes Lord George proposed to his wife that they should return home together. Of course she assented, and as soon as they were in the brougham made a little playful attack upon him. "You are becoming fond of Berkeley Square, I think."
"Mrs. Houghton is a friend of mine, and I am fond of my friends," he said, gravely.
"Oh, of course."
"You went there to play that game with Captain De Baron."