"Then an unscrupulous phrase-maker may be a danger to the community," Beth observed.
"Yes," said Sir George; "but on the other hand, one who is scrupulous would be a philanthropist of extraordinary power."
"Now, isn't that like his craft and subtlety, Evadne?" said Mrs. Kilroy to Lady Galbraith. "He has been gradually working up to that in order to make Mrs. Maclure suppose I intended to pay him a compliment when I called him a phrase-maker."
"You are taking a mean advantage of an honest attempt on my part to arrive at the truth," said Sir George.
"I believe you blundered into that without seeing in the least where you were going," Beth observed naïvely.
Everybody smiled, except Dan, who told her on the way home she had made a great mistake to say such a thing, and she must be careful in future, or she would give offence and make enemies for him.
"No fear with people like that," said Beth. "They all understood me."
"Which is as much as to say that your husband does not," said Dan, assuming his hurt expression. "Very well. Go your own way. But you'll be sorry for it."
"What a delightful person Mrs. Orton Beg is," Beth observed, to make a diversion; "and so nice-looking too!"
"You are easily pleased! Why, she's forty if she's a day!" Dan ejaculated, speaking as if that were to her discredit, and must deprive her of any consideration from him.