The widow regarded him with a serene face, and settled herself more comfortably in her chair.
"I came to congratulate you on your engagement to Miss May Calthorpe," she said, with all possible coolness and distinctness.
"Indeed? Then I am sorry to tell you that you have wasted your labor. I haven't even seen May since we left the County Club yesterday."
"Oh, I knew that."
"What in the world are you driving at, mother? Perhaps you don't mind telling me who told you of the engagement."
"Oh, not in the least. May told me."
"May Calthorpe!"
It was not strange that Jack should receive the announcement with surprise, but it was evident that there was in his mind more bewilderment. He stared at his mother without further word, while she pulled off her gloves and loosened her coat as if to prepare herself for the explanation which it was evident must follow.
"Come, Jack," she remarked, when she had adjusted these preliminaries, "we may as well be clear about this. I made an offer in your name to May, and she has accepted it."
Jack rose from his seat, and stood over her, his sunny face growing pale.