"I'd expect you to remember," Carroll smiled.
They went in to dinner and when the meal was over they walked across to Nairn's. They were ushered into a room in which several other guests were assembled, and Vane sat down beside Jessy Horsfield. A place on the sofa she occupied was invitingly empty; he did not know, of course, that she had adroitly got rid of her previous companion as soon as he came in.
"I want to thank you; I was over at Miss Hartley's this afternoon," he began.
"I understood that you were at the mining meeting."
"So I was, your brother would tell you that—"
Vane broke off, remembering that he had defeated Horsfield; but Jessy laughed encouragingly.
"He did so—you were opposed to him; but it doesn't follow that I share all his views. Perhaps I ought to be a stauncher partizan."
"If you'll be just to both of us, I'll be satisfied."
Jessy reflected that while this was, no doubt, a commendable sentiment, he might have made a better use of the opening she had given him by at least hinting that he would value her sympathy.
"I suppose that means that you're convinced of the equity of your cause?" she suggested.