"You must remember—Ehem—if you were to marry, of course your husband would help you to get rid of a good lot!"
Toney turned the conversation and the two who so well understood each other appeared in the Aldersfield drawing-room just as Lady Dove was telling Mrs. Faber to leave off as it was time to dress.
"Oh, there you are! Well, I do think, Evas, that you might have returned to tea. Has Antonia told you of the terrible inroad we have had? If——"
"Yes, yes, it was a mistake—but they didn't do any harm, did they?"
"Lewis Waycott and Edward Lang were here happily, and were very good-natured. By the way, I have had Mrs. Kenward here, and I have heard some news about him, which of course I have been expecting."
"Indeed, what's that?" said Sir Evas, pleasantly relieved that the storm was blowing over, whilst Toney leant against the door and listened.
"Lewis is going to marry his cousin Maud. It is private as yet, but quite understood."
"Good gracious! Strange we have not heard it!"
"Oh, you men have no eyes. At the party I saw them constantly smiling at each other, and Mrs. Hamilton said very pointedly something about young people fancying no one saw their inclinations. I guessed her meaning. Well, she has been working that way for some years, she means to feather her nest well, but of course it's a pity!"
Without knowing what he was doing, Sir Evas turned towards Toney, and to his surprise he found her gone.