"My Dear Adela,
"I have a little business to transact in London tomorrow, and will take luncheon with you at one o'clock, if quite convenient. Tell your husband, with my kind regards, that I hope to see him also—if he can spare an hour from that exacting place of his, Leadenhall Street. So I am to have your sister Mary as a neighbour, after all!
"Your sincere friend,
"Margery Upton."
"Which means, I presume, that Mary is to marry Cleveland," remarked Mr. Grubb, as he read the concluding sentence.
"Stupid thing! I told her, weeks ago, she was flirting with him."
"Nay, not flirting, Adela. Cleveland is not capable of that."
Adela tossed her head. How lovely she looked! fair as the fresh summer morning.
"She was flirting, though. And he would flirt, if he were not too old. Parsons, as a rule, flirt more than laymen. She must be hard up for a husband to take him. He has a houseful of children!"
"I dare say she likes him," said Mr. Grubb.