"Indeed! You don't mean to say you are in love with Victoria Sheldon still?"
Otterburn arose to his feet with an angry laugh, and began to walk slowly to and fro with his hands in his pockets.
"Is there anything so extraordinary in that? I loved Miss Sheldon and she refused to marry me, so I tried to forget her. Well, I haven't forgotten her, and I've come back to Town expressly to ask her to be my wife. I daresay I'm a fool, but you're not in love, and cannot understand the feeling."
"Can I not!" answered Gartney serenely, thinking of Lady Errington, "well, I don't know so much about that. Have you met Miss Sheldon yet?"
"No.
"That doesn't sound like an eager lover."
"I daresay it doesn't," retorted Angus coolly, "but you see I've learnt sense since my first rebuff, and now gang warily, as the Scotch say. I'm not going to let Miss Sheldon see I care two straws about her till I find out the state of her feelings towards me."
"Astute diplomatist!--then I suppose you won't call with me on my respected aunt?"
"And meet Miss Sheldon!--hardly! I'm going to wait till I see her at a fancy-dress ball Mrs. Veilsturm gives shortly."
"Oh!" said Eustace, removing his pipe, "is that lady still in the flesh?"