He avoided the point and made some casual remark about the changes in
London during the last few years. She sighed sorrowfully.
"It has changed for no one so much as me," she murmured. "The war—"
"You lost friends, I suppose?" he ventured.
She closed her eyes.
"Don't!" she whispered. "I never speak of it," she went on, twisting a ring around her fingers nervously, "I don't like it mentioned, but I was really engaged to young Lord Fanleighton."
He murmured a little word of sympathy, and their conversation was momentarily interrupted as she leaned forward to answer an enquiry from her host. Wingate turned to Sarah, who was seated at his other side.
"How dare you neglect me so shamefully!" she asked.
"Let me make amends," he pleaded.
"I am glad you feel penitent, at any rate. I expect Miss Flossie Lane has asked you what you think of her friend, Miss Orford, and told you that she was engaged to Lord Fanleighton."
"What a hearing!" he murmured.