Mrs. Alcot smiled.
"—the Manleys, Lady Tranmore, Miss French, the Dean of Milford and his wife, Eddie Helston—"
"That, I understand, is Lady Kitty's undergraduate adorer?"
"It's no use talking to you—you know all the gossip. And some county big-wigs, whose names I can't remember—come to dinner to-night." Mrs. Alcot stifled a yawn.
"I am very curious to see how Ashe takes his triumph," said Darrell, as they paused half-way.
"He is just the same. No!" said Madeleine Alcot, correcting herself—"no—not quite. He meant to triumph, and he knows that he has done so."
"My dear lady!" cried Darrell—"a quite enormous difference! Ashe never took stock of himself or his prospects in his life before."
"Well, now—you will find he takes stock of a good many things."
"Including Lady Kitty?"
His companion smiled.