"Thank you very much," she simply said; but at that moment their friend was with them again.

It was undeniable that, as she came in, Mrs.Assingham looked, with a certain smiling sharpness, from one of them to the other; the perception of which was perhaps what led Charlotte, for reassurance, to pass the question on.

"The Prince hopes so much I shall still marry some good person." Whether it worked for Mrs.Assingham or not, the Prince was himself, at this, more than ever reassured.

He was SAFE, in a word--that was what it all meant; and he had required to be safe.

He was really safe enough for almost any joke.