"Where is Sir Roger?"
"He has gone."
"Well, my dear! Pardon me for anticipating you, but as I happen to know all about the affair, accept my congratulations. You are the luckiest woman in America."
Mrs. Andrews put her arm around Edna's waist, but something in the countenance astonished and disappointed her.
"Mrs. Andrews, Sir Roger sails to-morrow for England. He desired me to beg that you would excuse him for not coming to bid you good-bye."
"Sails to-morrow! When does he return to America?"
"Probably never."
"Edna Earl, you are an idiot! You may have any amount of genius, but certainly not one grain of common sense! I have no patience with you! I had set my heart on seeing you his wife."
"But, unfortunately for me, I could not set my heart on him. I am very sorry. I wish we had never met, for indeed I like Sir Roger. But it is useless to discuss what is past and irremediable. Where are the children?"
"Asleep, I suppose. After all, show me 'a gifted woman, a genius,' and
I will show you a fool."