Once seems to have been enough for both of you." Algernon was unread in the hearts of women, and imagined that Edward's defection from Mrs.Lovell's sway had deprived him of the lady's sympathy and interest in his fortunes.
"Poor old Ned's in some scrape, I think," he said.
"Where is he ?" the lady asked, languidly.
"Paris." "Paris?
How very odd! And out of the season, in this hot weather.

It's enough to lead me to dream that he has gone over--one cannot realize why." "Upon my honour!" Algernon thumped on his knee; "by jingo!" he adopted a less compromising interjection; "Ned's fool enough.

My idea is, he's gone and got married." Mrs.Lovell was lying back with the neglectful grace of incontestable beauty; not a line to wrinkle her smooth soft features.

For one sharp instant her face was all edged and puckered, like the face of a fair witch.

She sat upright.
"Married! But how can that be when we none of us have heard a word of it ?" "I daresay you haven't," said Algernon; "and not likely to.