"I dare say," said Ballinger, "that Miss Clonmell told you I hoped you would allow me to call. Is she at home?"
Tony looked rather surprised.
"She returns on Saturday; I thought you were at Pinnels also."
"I left last Monday fortnight, and I haven't heard from Miss Clonmell since. I thought she was coming back next day."
"Been having good hunting with the Cockshots?" asked Tony.
"Pretty fair. Mr. Bevan, it's no use beating about the bush; you know, I have no doubt, why I am here and why I have ventured to call upon you. When I went to Pinnels three weeks ago I fully intended to ask Miss Clonmell to be my wife--to ask her again. She told you that I had already proposed to her?"
"She didn't tell me. Her father did though."
"Well, I didn't ask her again at Pinnels: not in so many words; I never got the chance."
"That was unfortunate," said Tony, and in spite of himself his eyes twinkled.
"It was d--d unfortunate. I'll make a clean breast of it. There was another woman there--a married woman--with whom I had had a foolish flirtation in my salad days--when I was at Cambridge. You know the sort; older than I am, and horribly tenacious."