"Brandolin can take care of himself," says Usk, carelessly. "He knows the time of day as well as anybody, and I don't know why you should be rough on it, my lady: it will be positively refreshing if anybody marries after one of your house-parties; they generally only get divorced after them."
"The Waverleys are very good friends still, I believe," says Dorothy Usk, coldly.
The reply seems irrelevant, but to the ear of George Usk it carries considerable relevancy.
He laughs a little nervously. "Oh, yes: so are we, aren't we?"
"Certainly," says the mistress of Surrenden.
At the first Drawing-room this year, the admired of all eyes, and the centre of all comment, is the Lady Brandolin.