“Yes, I love you with my whole soul.”
When they reached St. Gregory’s Vicarage, the Canon greeted Railing with effusion.
“My dear Mr. Railing, it’s so kind of you to come. Permit me to introduce you to my sister. Mr. Railing is the author of that admirable and much-discussed book, The Future of Socialism.”
“And what is the future of Socialism?” asked Lady Sophia, politely.
“It took me three hundred pages to answer that question,” he replied, with a smile.
“Then you must allow me to give you some tea at once.”
Winnie went up to her uncle, who had been lunching quietly with his sister, but he put out a deprecating hand.
“You’d better not kiss me after being at a temperance meeting,” he said. “I’m awfully afraid of catchin’ things. I always think it’s such a mercy there are no poor people at St. Gregory’s.”
“D’you think they’re all infectious?” smiled Railing.
“One can never tell, you know. I always recommend Theodore to sprinkle himself with Keating’s Powder when he’s been marrying the lower classes.”