I shall, I know." Then, as he saw his cousin's humorous expression, he laughed boyishly.

"It does sound odd, I admit," he said, "the inference is that I don't know her well--and that is just it, Ethelrida, but only to you would I say it.

Look here, my dear girl, I have got to be comforted this afternoon.

She has just flattened me out.
We are going to be married on the 25th of October, and I want you to be awfully nice to her.

I am sure she has had a rottenly unhappy life." "Of course I will, Tristram dear," said Lady Ethelrida, "but remember, I am completely in the dark.