‘We had a gay meeting last night.’
‘Very much so. So Lady Araminta has at last shown mercy.’
‘I cannot believe it.’
‘I have just had a note from Challoner, preliminary, I suppose, to my trusteeship. You are not the only person who holds my talents for business in high esteem.’
‘But Ballingford; what will he say?’
‘That is his affair; and as he never, to my knowledge, spoke to the purpose, his remarks now, I suppose, are not fated to be much more apropos.’
‘Yet he can say things. We all know——’
‘Yes, yes, we all know; but nobody believes. That is the motto of the present day; and the only way to neutralise scandal, and to counteract publicity.’
Mrs. Dallington was silent, and looked uneasy; and her friend perceiving that, although she had sent to him so urgent a billet, she did not communicate, expressed a little surprise.
‘But you wish to see me, Bertha?’