"Evelyn, don't lay the blame on me; you wanted to go too.... I hope that when you do see your father you will say that it was not all my fault."
"That what was not your fault, dear?"
"Well—I mean that it was not all my fault that we went away together. You know that I always liked your father. I was interested in his ideas; I do not want him to think too badly of me. You will say something in my favour. After all, I haven't treated you badly. If I didn't marry you, it was because—"
"Dearest Owen, you've been very good to me."
He felt that to ask her again to go to see her father would only distress her. He said instead—
"I hear a great deal about your father's choir. It appears to be quite the fashion to hear high mass at St. Joseph's."
"Father always said that Palestrina would draw all London, if properly given. Last Sunday he gave a mass by Vittoria; I longed to go. He'll never forgive me for not going to hear his choir. It is strange that we both should have succeeded—he with Palestrina, I with Wagner."
"Yes, it is strange.... But you promise me that you'll go and see him as soon as you've sung Margaret—the following day."
"Yes, dear, I promise you I'll do that."
"You'll send him a box for the first night?"