“I should be glad if the engagement were broken off,” said Lady Milmo, reflectively.
“So would all the true friends of Ella Defries,” replied Sylvester.
Lady Milmo arched her eyebrows. She looked at him for a moment quizzically.
“Is that purely a disinterested remark, Dr. Lanyon?”
“I would not marry one single woman that is now living on this earth,” said Sylvester.
“Why, whatever have we poor creatures done to you? There are some men, I know, who look upon women as a disease, but I'm sure you 're not one.”
Sylvester scanned his finger nails,—a trick he had caught from his father.
“One marriage is enough for a man, Lady Milmo,” he said in a low voice.
Lady Milmo was conscious of an indiscretion. She escaped adroitly and led the talk back to Roderick.
“I think we'd better get this silly affair of Ella's broken off, don't you?” she said at parting.