"I am glad to hear that."
"What I meant was, that it would have been much better for him to have brought his daughter down here with him."
"Do you mean to insinuate that she is—unable to take care of herself in town?"
"I mean to insinuate nothing, but according to my old-fashioned ideas——"
"Go on, this is interesting," said Miss Pursehouse, who guessed what was coming.
"According to my old-fashioned ideas it is scarcely the thing for a man, a married man, to pay a visit——"
"You mean it's improper for me to have Mr Lambert staying here as a guest?" "Improper was not the word I used."
"Oh, nonsense! you meant it. Well, I think I am the best judge of my own propriety, and I see nothing improper in the transaction. My aunt is here, Lulu Morgan is here, you are here, Professor Wilson is here, there's a poet coming to-morrow—I suppose that's improper too. I do wish you would be sensible; besides, Mr Lambert is not a married man, he is a widower."
"Does he know that you are engaged?"
"Sure, I don't know. I don't go about with a placard with 'I am engaged' written on it on my back. Why do you ask?"