"A thousand times no! To be amused and to be interested—ah, what can be so widely different as those two conditions of mind!"
"Indeed! Good night, Mr. Lenoble. Please ask the cabman to drive as fast as he can venture to do with consideration for his horse. I am afraid I shall be late, and my friends will be anxious about me."
"You will be late. You consider your friends at Bayswater, and you consider even the cabman's horse. You are charity itself. Will you not consider me a little also, Miss Paget?"
"But how?"
"Let me see you before I go back to Normandy. Your papa likes to see you twice a week, I know. This is Monday night; will you come to see him on Thursday?"
"If he wishes it."
"He does wish it. Ah, how he wishes it! You will come?"
"If Mrs. Sheldon and Charlotte can spare me."
"They cannot spare you. No one can spare you. That cannot be. It is amongst the things that are impossible. But they will have pity upon—your father, and they will let you come."
"Please ask the cabman to start. Indeed, I shall be late. Good night,
M. Lenoble."