"Well, it is not for me to tell you Sir, knowing ladies as you do, but it is just kissing and fondling them, and them things, makin' them feel that they're just everything,—even reasonable, Sir Nicholas."
Burton's dryly humorous face delighted me. His advice was first class, too!
"I'll think it over," I told him, and he left me alone.
That would be one way of winning or losing everything certainly! But it would also be breaking my word, and I don't believe I could do that.
Alathea came in in time for luncheon. Her face was set in a mutinous obstinate mould. We went into the dining-room immediately, and so there was no chance of conversation. I noticed that she wore no bracelets or rings, nothing of mine, not even the wedding ring.
We were icy to each other during the meal, and made conversation, and when we were alone with the coffee I just said:
"I hope that you have not forgotten that at four o'clock we are to go to the Duchesse's to meet the friends that she thinks it is suitable for you to know."
Alathea started. I could see she had not registered this fact for this date.
"I would rather not go," she said resentfully.
"I daresay you would. So would I, but we owe the Duchesse gratitude for all her kindness to us, and I fear we must."