“I hope not, my love,” he answered, pressing her hand under the table.
Mr. Ingalls came near swallowing a piece of meat the wrong way, and Miss Brintnall sniffed contemptuously.
“There may be exceptions,” she said, “but they only prove the rule; even in your own case, Mrs. Bower, you may change your mind some years hence.”
“I never shall, I am sure. Shall I, Theophilus, dear?”
“No, my love.”
Here Mr. Ingalls squeezed Gilbert’s hand under the table, with a comic look, which proved very trying to our hero’s gravity.
Miss Brintnall received unexpected help from Mrs. McDonald.
“I agree with you entirely, Miss Brintnall,” said that lady, “and I don’t believe there are any exceptions. Men always try to domineer over women.”
“My experience is the other way,” said the major.
“Of course, I expected to hear you say so,” said the lady, tossing her head.