"Of course it's extraordinary, and I said so to Miss Wentstile. She said that as the Count is a foreigner, it was very natural for him to follow foreign fashions in arranging the marriage with her instead of with Alice."
"And she added, I've no doubt," interpolated Mrs. Harbinger, "that she entirely approved of the foreign fashion."
"She did say something of that sort," admitted Bradish, with entire gravity.
Mrs. Harbinger burst into a laugh, and trimmed the wick of her tea-lamp. Neligage grinned, but his pleasant face darkened instantly.
"Miss Wentstile is an old idiot!" said he emphatically.
"Oh, come, Mr. Neligage," remonstrated his hostess, "that is too strong language. We must observe the proprieties of abuse."
"And say simply that she is Miss Wentstile," suggested Mrs. Croydon sweetly.
The company smiled, with the exception of May, whose face had been growing longer and longer.
"I don't care what she says," the girl burst out indignantly; "I don't believe Alice will listen to such a thing for one minute."
"Perhaps she won't," Bradish rejoined doubtfully, "but Miss Wentstile is famous for having her own way. I'm sure I shouldn't feel safe if she undertook to marry me off."