"No disgrace, certainly," said Phineas.
"But I am nobody,—or worse than nobody."
"And I also am going to be a nobody," said Phineas, laughing.
"Ah; you are a man and will get over it, and you have many years before you will begin to be growing old. I am growing old already. Yes, I am. I feel it, and know it, and see it. A woman has a fine game to play; but then she is so easily bowled out, and the term allowed to her is so short."
"A man's allowance of time may be short too," said Phineas.
"But he can try his hand again." Then there was another pause. "I had thought, Mr. Finn, that you would have married," she said in her very lowest voice.
"You knew all my hopes and fears about that."
"I mean that you would have married Madame Goesler."
"What made you think that, Lady Laura?"
"Because I saw that she liked you, and because such a marriage would have been so suitable. She has all that you want. You know what they say of her now?"