"No, not the least."
"Sharp, five then."
"Humph, ha," said Winter, rubbing his hands together, as he returned to the room; "that's a fine fellow—no nonsense about him—though he nearly knocked me over this morning. I am glad his brother never married. Fred will make a first-rate member of the Upper House yet."
"But, my dear John, how you could be so thoughtless as to ask such a fine gentleman—accustomed to the style he is—to a scrambling dinner with us, in a couple of hours. I'm sure I do not know where to turn."
Mrs. Storey looked truly sympathising.
"Pooh, pooh, my dear, give him a chop and a jam tart; anything—he will be satisfied, I'll engage; surely you must remember how easily pleased he was at A——."
"Easily pleased, Mr. Winter! I am not so sure of that! a much more fastidious man might be pleased with the table we kept at A——."
Winter pulled a long face, expressive of contrition for his fault; and Kate interposed her soothing influence.
"Colonel Egerton was too glad to see you, and to come to you, to be difficile."
"Well, Mr. Winter, I must go home before it is quite dark," said Mrs. Storey.