"I don't believe she does either, but she cares for herself, and he flatters her. The idea of a Norman-Wentworth's wife being flattered by the attention of a tinker's grandson!"
When the ball broke up and Mrs. Lancaster's carriage was called, several men escorted her to it. Wickersham, who was trying to recover ground which something told him he had lost, followed her down the stairway with one or two other men, and after she had entered the carriage stood leaning in at the door while he made his adieus and peace at the same moment.
"You were not always so cruel to me," he said in a low tone.
Mrs. Lancaster laughed genuinely.
"I was never cruel to you, Ferdy; you mistake leniency for harshness."
"No one else would say that to me."
"So much the more pity. You would be a better man if you had the truth told you oftener."
"When did you become such an advocate of Truth? Is it this man?"
"What man?"
"Keith. If it is, I want to tell you that he is not what he pretends."