Finally, however, he started, his eye having turned to the clock.

"I'm afraid that, though our hostess doesn't appear, I mustn't forget myself.

I too came back but yesterday and I've an engagement--for which I'm already late--with Miss Brookenham, who has been so good as to ask me to tea." The divided mind, the express civility, the decent "Miss Brookenham," the escape from their hostess--these were all things Mitchy could quickly take in, and they gave him in a moment his light for not missing his occasion.

"I see, I see--I shall make you keep Nanda waiting.

But there's something I shall ask you to take from me quite as a sufficient basis for that: which is simply that after all, you know--for I think you do know, don't you ?--I'm nearly as much attached to her as you are." Mr.Longdon had looked suddenly apprehensive and even a trifle embarrassed, but he spoke with due presence of mind.