Part 33 (1/2)

”Just this,” replied the other. ”That I know Mrs Glinn, that I agree with you about her character--”

”You know her? That's odd!”

”I have known her for a year.”

They looked each other in the eyes while a minute pa.s.sed. Then Lord Herbert said slowly, ”I understand.”

”What?”

”That I have come to the wrong man for advice.”

There was a silence, broken only by the ticking of a clock and the uneasy movements of Maine's fox-terrier, which was lying before the empty grate and dreaming of departed fires.

At last Maine said: ”To-day I asked Mrs Glinn to marry me.”

The other started perceptibly. ”Knowing what I have told you?” he asked.

”Not knowing it.”

”What--what did she say?”

”Nothing. I am to see her to-morrow.”

Lord Herbert glanced at him furtively. ”I suppose you will not go--now?”

he said.

”Yes, Manning, I shall,” Maine answered.

”Well,” the other man continued, looking at his watch and yawning, ”I must be going. It's late. Glad to have seen you, Maine. I am to be found at 80 St James's Place. Thanks; yes I will have my coat on. My pipe--oh!

here it is. Good-night.”

The door closed, and Maine was left alone.

”Will she tell me to-morrow, or will she be silent?” he said to himself.

”That depends on one thing: Has love of truth the largest half of her heart, or love of me?”

He sighed--at the conventionality of the world, perhaps.

III

”I am not at home to any one except Sir Hugh Maine,” Mrs Glinn said to the footman. ”You understand?”

”Yes, ma'am.”

He went out softly and closed the door.

The English summer had gone back upon its steps that afternoon, and remembered the duty it owed to its old-time reputation. The canary, a puffed-out ball of ragged-looking feathers in its cage, seemed listening with a depressed attention to the beat of the cold rain against the window. The daisies, in their boxes, dripped and nodded in the wind.

There was a darkness in the pretty room, and the smile of the china goblins was no longer yellow. Like many people who are not made of china, they depended upon advent.i.tious circ.u.mstances for much of their outward show. When they were not gilded there was a good deal of the pill apparent in their nature.