"That isn't a compliment to my invention," said Dicky hotly, "but I suppose you'll come down and see me start?"
"That means I shall come down to say good-bye," she replied smiling. "Oh, Dicky, you're a dear boy when you are sensible: but this airship rubbish----"
"Mabel, I thought you admired my airship?" he expostulated indignantly.
"How can I, when I have never seen it. Besides, a woman never admires anything that takes the attention of a man off herself."
"What nonsense! I'm always thinking of you." Mabel blushed and laughed skeptically. "Am I to believe that, Dicky?"
"Of course," and then Dicky, in spite of the presence of three other people, might have gone on to say much more--for he really seemed to be warming to a proposal--when Lady Denham sat up and sighed.
"You boys will have to go away," she said in her soft, slow voice; "we have to go out to dinner to-night and to the theatre afterwards, and then to an At Home. I'm sure I would much rather rest in my bed."
"Then why don't you, Aunt Lucy?" asked Cannington bluntly.
"My dear boy," she said reprovingly, "I must take Mabel out and give her some entertainment. Besides, I have made up my mind to get her married."
"Married," cried Dicky indignantly.