"Well, dear Kate, how did Lord Effingham take his sentence of banishment?"
"He did not take it at all; he said he would ride over every day, to make enquiries in person."
"And did he tell you any news?"
"No."
"He never tells news! How unlike the present race of babblings into which our aristocracy has degenerated."
"Why, what does he do?"
"Ah, Kate, he is no favourite with you; I see his foreign indifference to unmarried women has prejudiced you."
"No, indeed, I neither like nor dislike him, but there is something in his face, and voice, and manner, I could never trust."
"Lord Effingham does not pretend to be a pattern man, and certainly he is, when he likes it, a most agreeable member of society," returned Lady Desmond, rather coldly. "But will you answer that note of Lady Elizabeth's, I cannot, of course, dine with her."
And Kate perceived, by this sudden change, that her cousin did not like to pursue the subject.