"Cannot you ask Lois in, on some pretext?"
"Not without her sister. It is hard on you, Philip! I will do the best for you I can; but you must watch your opportunity."
Mr. Dillwyn gave it up with a good grace, and devoted himself to Mrs. Barclay for the rest of the evening. On the other side of the wall separating the two rooms, meanwhile a different colloquy had taken place.
"So that is one of your fine people?" said Miss Charity. "Well, I don't think much of him."
"I have no doubt he would return the compliment," said Madge.
"No," said Lois; "I think he is too polite."
"He was polite to grandmother," returned Charity. "Not to anybody else, that I saw. But, girls, didn't he like the bread!"
"I thought he liked everything pretty well," said Madge.
"When's he goin'?" Mrs. Armadale asked suddenly.
"Monday, some time," Madge answered. "Mrs. Barclay said 'until Monday.'
What time Monday I don't know."