A polite but sufficiently ordinary speech; certainly not in itself calculated to call forth Mitford's rejoinder--"In God's name, how did you come here?"
"You still keep up that horrid habit of swearing! Autre temps, autres moeurs, as I teach my young lady from the French proverb-book. What was it you asked?"
"How did you come here? what are you doing here?"
"I came here through the medium of the Ladies' Association for Instructors, to whom I paid a registration-fee of five shillings. What am I doing here? Educating youth, and making myself generally useful. I am Miss Gillespie, of whom I know you have heard."
"You have seen me before this, since--since the old days?"
"I don't know what is meant by 'old days.' I was born two years ago, just before Mrs. Hammond married, and was christened Ruth Gillespie. My mother was the Ladies' Association for Instructors, and she at once placed me where I am. Except this I have no past."
"And your future?"
"Can take care of itself: sufficient for the day, &c.; and the present days are very pleasant. There is no past for you either, is there? so far as I am concerned, I mean. I first saw Sir Charles Mitford when I was sitting in Mrs. Hammond's phaeton in the Park with my Shetland veil down, I recollect; and as I had heard the story of the romantic manner in which he had succeeded to the title and estates, I asked full particulars about him from--well--my mistress. I learned that he had married, and that his wife was reported to be very lovely--oh, very lovely indeed!" she almost purred as she said this, and undulated as though about to spring.
"Be good enough to leave my wife's name alone. You say there is no past for either of us. Let our present be as wide asunder as possible."
"That all rests with you."