"Out of pique—out of pique," she assured him. "Mona is a nice girl, poor darling, even though she did murder her uncle, not that I believe she did. But Constance is the one love of Mr. Shepworth's life, and fifty Monas won't make up for the loss. Mona, if ever she does become Mrs. Shepworth, which I very much doubt, will only be a make-shift."
"Oh!" Prelice was almost too indignant to speak. That so peerless a girl should be talked of as a "make-shift" seemed positively wicked. "You must be mistaken. Ned would not behave so badly."
"Ask him then."
"I shall do this very night."
"Then you will go to that woman's?"
"Yes. I accepted, as I always liked Constance. Besides, I have to see Ned, who lives in these same mansions——"
"I know he does," burst out Lady Sophia; "quite indecent I call it."
"Oh, hang it, aunt, a man must live somewhere."
"Not next door to a woman who has jilted him."
"He doesn't live next door, but on the floor below."