"Now, don't be absurd, Jim. You know she would have broken any engagement to see you, had she known you were going to call to-day. She has only gone to the dressmaker's."
"How long will she be there?"
"Until four."
"Four hours at a dressmaker's——"
"And then she's going to the hair dressser's."
"And then?"
"She has an engagement for tea. I don't expect her home until seven. I'm awfully sorry."
"Of course, I understand, Mrs. Primrose," Stuart said with a light laugh, "I should have told her—but I didn't know until a few moments ago that I was coming."
"Nothing serious has happened, I hope?" she asked, with carefully modulated sympathy which said plainly that she hoped for the worst.
"No. Just say that I'll call after dinner."