'Not with such weapons as have been used to-night, Mr Wentworth.'
'Well, do not talk any more about wanting rest and peace after shewing how much you enjoy planting a home-thrust.'
'We were talking of a very different war and a very different peace to this.'
'I suppose we were; and in that case it is for me to cry peccavi.'
'Yes.'
'Well, I will think about it. One should never do that on impulse. Meantime, good-night.'
I gave him my hand with a smile. He then bade the others good-night, and took his departure.
Mrs Chichester seemed to have lost her self-control a little. She certainly found it difficult to be quite as sweet and gracious to me as usual that night. I believe, too, that she had tried her influence upon Lilian with respect to me, for the latter was more than usually tender and loving when she came to my room that night for our little tête-à-tête. There was just the difference which might be expected in one of her nature after hearing anything against a friend.
'I love you, dear Mary—I love you. You must let me say it to-night.'
'Why to-night, of all nights in the year?' I smilingly rejoined.