“Yes; so I suppose it is bound to come off. Lady Hildegarde is very strong.”
“Then you take for granted that Miss Chalgrove would accept Mr. Somers as a matter——”
“As a matter of course,” he finished briskly.
“What nonsense! How can you tell?”
“A straw shows how the wind blows!”
“I give you that straw for your opinion, and,” now warming up, “I think it is too bad to discuss a girl, and take all sorts of things for granted. It is taking a great liberty with her name.”
“Hullo, now I’m catching it! I mean no harm; every one discusses his neighbors’ little affairs. I don’t know what we should do without them. If you bar that subject, what are we to talk about—come now?”
“Books, politics, the weather.”
“No, thank you”—with great scorn.
“Well, then, horses.”