“Mr. Aylett:
“Dear Sir,—Your favor of the 15th, enclosed in one from my sister, reached me this morning.”
Then followed the expose of Frederic Chilton's misdeeds, which Winston had transferred to his own epistle to Mabel, as the leading argument in his refusal to sanction her engagement.
Mabel read it through without flinching; then turned over to the first page and put her finger upon a paragraph.
“Who was the lady here mentioned?”
Mr. Aylett shrugged his fine shoulders.
“I have never interested myself to inquire. Beyond the statement of your friend's rascality, the story was nothing to me.”
“Herbert!”
The ringing call—sharp and clear—checked the pianists in the middle of a bar.
“Step here a moment, if you please!”