Once more Lady Janet looked resigned to wait (if necessary) until the middle of next week.
Julian took refuge in an answer worthy of the most commonplace man on the face of the civilized earth.
"I beg your ladyship to accept my thanks and my excuses," he said.
Lady Janet's many-ringed fingers, mechanically stroking the cat in her lap, began to stroke him the wrong way.
Lady Janet's inexhaustible patience showed signs of failing her at last.
"Mighty civil, I am sure," she said.

"Make it complete.

Say, Mr.Julian Gray presents his compliments to Lady Janet Roy, and regrets that a previous engagement--Julian!" exclaimed the old lady, suddenly pushing the cat off her lap, and flinging her last pretense of good temper to the winds--"Julian, I am not to be trifled with! There is but one explanation of your conduct--you are evidently avoiding my house.

Is there somebody you dislike in it?
Is it me ?" Julian intimated by a gesture that his aunt's last question was absurd.
(The much-injured cat elevated his back, waved his tail slowly, walked to the fireplace, and honored the rug by taking a seat on it.) Lady Janet persisted.

"Is it Grace Roseberry ?" she asked next.
Even Julian's patience began to show signs of yielding.