"Oh, they were very confidential, you know," lisped Spunyarn; "I was quite out in the cold."
"Ungrateful man, when you had a window all to yourself, and a smiling Miss Sleek on either side of you, gazing into your eyes. You neglected your opportunities, Lord Spunyarn. Let me tell you that the daughters of my last conquest are two very pretty girls."
"Not when Miss Warrender is present."
"I rather think you forgot Miss Warrender's presence," retorted the coquette.
"Anyhow, two's company and three isn't, you'll all allow that. How happy could I have been with either were t'other dear charmer away."
"Did they both propose to you, Lord Spunyarn?" said Mrs. Haggard with a smile.
"If I were a vain man I should confess that they rather gave themselves away."
"Much as Hanibal Peter Gray did for love of the beautiful cannibal," said Lucy.
"Oh, they were quite safe in my case, not being a mangeur de cœurs," replied the discreet young nobleman. "But my attention was not sufficiently absorbed by those guileless girls that I failed to perceive the doings of the other couple."
"You are quite wrong, as usual. Mr. Sleek was merely explaining who the various people were."