"Yet it may happen."
The flush in her face had died away, and she was now gravely attending to her work.
Mr. Fox-Cordery pulled down the ends of his little silky mustache. "Be careful how you address me, Charlotte. It is a long time since you and Mr. Dixon met."
"No; we have seen each other several times this past year."
"You made no mention to me of these meetings."
"There was no reason why I should, Fox."
"Did you inform mother?"
"That is an unnecessary question. Had I informed her you would not have remained in ignorance. Mother keeps nothing from you."
"You have grown into a particularly intelligent young woman," he said, and added spitefully, "Well, not exactly a young woman----" pausing to note the effect of the shot.
"I am twenty-eight," said Charlotte, in her usual tone, "and you, Fox, will be forty soon."