Quarren said calmly:
"Don't do it then, Molly. There's no use of your getting in wrong with Mrs. Sprowl."
Mrs. Wycherly laughed:
"Oh, I found a way around. I asked Mrs. Sprowl and Sir Charles at the same time."
"What do you mean?" he said, turning a colourless face to hers.
"What I say. Ricky dear, I suppose that Strelsa will have to marry a wealthy man, now—and I believe she realises it, too—but I—I wanted her to marry you, some day——"
He swung around again, confronting her.
"You darling!" he said under his breath.
Mrs. Wycherly's lip trembled and she dabbed at her eyes.
"I wish I could express my feelings like Mrs. Sprowl, but I can't," she said naïvely. "Sir Charles will marry her, now; I know perfectly well he will—unless Langly Sprowl——"