"In this company I am free to admit that I sometimes sigh in secret for a happy home. Yet even venerable bachelorhood has its compensations. By the way," he added, "our colony at Westfield is likely to have an addition to its stud of bachelors. I hear that Harry Spencer is coming home."
"Harry Spencer? How interesting," cried the two women in the same breath.
"The fascinator," continued Mrs. Cole with slow, sardonic articulation.
"To break some other woman's heart, I suppose," said Mrs. Cunningham.
"And yet it is safe to say that he will be received with open arms by your entire sex, including the present company," remarked Gerald with a tug at his mustache.
The sally was received with pensive silence as a deduction apparently not to be gainsaid.
"He is very agreeable," said Mrs. Cunningham flatly.
"And extremely handsome," said Mrs. Cole. "Not the type of manly beauty which would cause my mature heart to flutter, but dangerous to the youthful imagination. He used to look like a handsome pirate, and if he had whispered honeyed words to me instead of to Laura—who knows?"
"Poor Laura!"