"Why is it necessarily disagreeable?" she demanded, seating herself beside the table, and playing with the torn paper.
"You said yesterday that you were in a mess."
"Yes," she replied slowly; "but that was yesterday."
"Does that mean that you are out of it? So much the better."
Mrs. Neligage clasped her hands in her lap, and regarded her son with a strong and eager look.
"Jack," she began, "I want you to listen to me, and not interrupt. You must hear the whole thing before you begin to put in your word. In the first place, you are engaged to May Calthorpe."
The exclamation and the laugh which greeted this piece of information were so nearly simultaneous that Jack might be given the benefit of the doubt and so evade the charge of swearing before a lady.
"Why in the world, mother," he said, "must you come harping on that string again? You know it's of no use."
"You are engaged now, Jack, and of course that makes a difference."
"Oh, bother! Do speak sensibly. What are you driving at?"