"Oh, Mr. Finn, what a beautiful speech you made. I read every word of it," said Violet.
"And I didn't even look at it, old fellow," said Chiltern, getting up and putting his arm on the other's shoulder in a way that was common with him when he was quite intimate with the friend near him.
"Laura went down and heard it," said Violet. "I could not do that, because I was tied to my aunt. You can't conceive how dutiful I am during this last month."
"And is it to be in a month, Chiltern?" said Phineas.
"She says so. She arranges everything,—in concert with my father. When I threw up the sponge, I simply asked for a long day. 'A long day, my lord,' I said. But my father and Violet between them refused me any mercy."
"You do not believe him," said Violet.
"Not a word. If I did he would want to see me on the coast of Flanders again, I don't doubt. I have come to congratulate you both."
"Thank you, Mr. Finn," said Violet, taking his hand with hearty kindness. "I should not have been quite happy without one nice word from you."
"I shall try and make the best of it," said Chiltern. "But, I say, you'll come over and ride Bonebreaker again. He's down there at the Bull, and I've taken a little box close by. I can't stand the governor's county for hunting."
"And will your wife go down to Willingford?"