"Why was she in love with him?" said Meredith, impatiently. "As to the Moffatt engagement, naturally, she was kept in the dark?"
"At first," said the Duchess, hesitating. "And when she knew, poor dear, it was too late!"
"Too late for what?"
"Well, when one falls in love one doesn't all at once shake it off because the man deceives you."
"One should," said Meredith, with energy. "Men are not worth all that women spend upon them."
"Oh, that's true!" cried the Duchess--"so dreadfully true! But what's the good of preaching? We shall go on spending it to the end of time."
"Well, at any rate, don't choose the dummies and the frauds."
"Ah, there you talk sense," said the Duchess. "And if only we had the French system in England! If only one could say to Julie: 'Now look here, there's your husband! It's all settled--down to plate and linen--and you've got to marry him!' how happy we should all be."
Dr. Meredith stared.
"You have the man in your eye," he said.