"Then you do not believe that man? You don't believe the lies they said of me?"
"Never for one single instant."
His outspoken denial seemed to take her aback.
"Then, if you didn't believe it, why--but never mind! Cecil, it would be useless to pretend to you that I have been the best of women, but I swear that I will be a good wife to you until I die."
"My own," he murmured. To himself he said, "There seems to have been a good deal more romance about this little affair of Cecil's than I supposed."
Her manner changed.
"Let us talk of something else! Let us talk of you. Tell me of yourself, my love!"
"Well," said Hubert, the ever-ready, "for the moment I am in rather an awkward predicament."
"What is it?"
"The fact is"--he looked her straight in the face, and never turned a hair--"my remittances seem to have all gone wrong. I am landed here with empty pockets."