‘One must behave civilly. Mr Whelpdale quite understands me.’
‘You are sure of that? He didn’t seem quite so gloomy as he ought to have been.’
‘The success of Chit-Chat keeps him in good spirits.’
It was perhaps a week after this that Mrs Dolomore came quite unexpectedly to the house by Regent’s Park, as early as eleven o’clock in the morning. She had a long talk in private with Dora. Jasper was not at home; when he returned towards evening, Dora came to his room with a countenance which disconcerted him.
‘Is it true,’ she asked abruptly, standing before him with her hands strained together, ‘that you have been representing yourself as no longer engaged to Marian?’
‘Who has told you so?’
‘That doesn’t matter. I have heard it, and I want to know from you that it is false.’
Jasper thrust his hands into his pockets and walked apart.
‘I can take no notice,’ he said with indifference, ‘of anonymous gossip.’
‘Well, then, I will tell you how I have heard. Maud came this morning, and told me that Mrs Betterton had been asking her about it. Mrs Betterton had heard from Mrs Lane.’