"That question of 'sets' seems to be one of paramount importance with you, Mr. Churchill. How frequently you harp upon it!"
"It is a question which we must necessarily bear in mind, Miss Lexden," said Churchill, with emphasis; then smiling, added,--"Suum cuique, which is Latin, and unintelligible; 'the cobbler and his last,' which is English and vernacular. But why did you ask?"
"Simply because he seems amusing, and likely to be popular here. I am sorry we shall not have the opportunity of profiting by his high spirits, as aunt and I will probably be leaving on Thursday."
One quick glance told her that this shot, if intended for mischief, had signally failed. With perfect calmness Churchill replied,
"And I also must manage to survive the loss of Mr. Beresford's conversation, as I go to-morrow."
"To-morrow!" exclaimed Barbara; then, in her ordinary tone, "Ah, to be sure, you have of course so much to do."
"Well," said Churchill, smiling, "for a month I hope to do little beyond mooning on the beach and throwing pebbles into the sea."
"Yes," said Barbara quickly; "that is, I believe, the usual thing under the circumstances. And the place? the Isle of Wight, or Devonshire, of course?"
"Under the circumstances!" he echoed. "I beg your pardon, Miss Lexden, but I fear we are at cross purposes. Under what circumstances?"
("He braves it out to the last," thought Barbara; "who would have thought that he could have stooped to a shuffle, or degrade the woman he was engaged to, by tacitly ignoring the fact?") Then she said, curling her lip, and tossing the glove with a lightly contemptuous gesture,