"Once for all, dear, I won't," said Penelope. "Much as I dislike this publicity, I see it is doing good. I get letters every day from scores of people saying that I am doing good. Three to-day declared that they were following my example in a registrar's office, and three more are thinking of it. One lady writes, saying she hopes I would go in for abolishing marriage altogether when public opinion was prepared for the extinction of the race. I don't agree with her, but she was enthusiastic, and enthusiasm is a great thing."
"I shall go yachting for a year," said Bill.
"I wish you would, dear Bill," replied Penelope. "It will do you good. You look quite pale, and I don't like you to do that. Have you any cough?"
"Damn it, no," said Brading, crossly.
And he went yachting again without publicity but with a lady. He was no true Briton, and never read the Dictator.
His departure took one thing off Pen's hands, but none of her lovers departed. Titania's words had sunk deep in their minds.
"She's not married," they said. "And if she says she is, it is only to try us."
They all interviewed Bob, and made things very pleasant for that rising statesman. If he believed Pen was married there was no reason to say so openly.
"Am I old enough to be a director, do you think?" he asked Gordon. "What I want is to make pots of money and rebuild Goring, which is a bally ruin."
"You don't answer my questions," said Gordon.