The bitterness in his tone jarred on Kate's ear. His face was averted, so that there was no need for her to restrain the half-inquiring, half-loving gaze with which she looked up at him as she said,
"I never knew you cynical before, Mr. Frere, and I don't think the mood becomes you. Surely the notion that wealth is the most desirable of all possessions is utterly exploded. For my own part, I think that riches in a man--I mean when they are so great as to be talked about--are something against him; something to be got over, like his being black, or having a hump-back."
"This is a very refreshing doctrine, Miss Guyon; but I'm afraid it has not many disciples; and even you would lean to the side of the modest competence and----"
"I would lean to nothing; I would give way to nothing so palpably sordid and base."
"You are strangely in earnest on this point, Miss Guyon."
"I am thoroughly in earnest about it; and I----"
"You cannot tell with what delight I hear it, Miss Guyon. I--you have removed a certain distrust which has prevented me from----"
"As you say"--broke in the strident voice of Mr. Guyon, as he with Streightley and Yeldham "formed up in line"--"In a formal dinner-party you may sit side by side with people and never know any more about them than if they were at opposite ends of the table. You're quite right, Streightley, quite right. But to-night we're quite alone. Katharine, my dear, Mr. Streightley has promised to take us as he finds us, and come home to dinner to-day."
Miss Guyon bowed, and murmured her delight. Then said sotto voce, "It is Mrs. Tresillian's night, papa, you recollect; and Lady Henmarsh is coming to fetch me."
"O yes, my dear; of course, of course. Lady Henmarsh coming, eh! But that won't make any difference."