At the first words that he spoke she drew back directly--sadly, not angrily.
"Don't press me to-day," she said; "I am not well to-day." He rose and looked at her anxiously.

"May I speak about it to-morrow ?" "Yes, to-morrow." She returned to the sofa, and changed the subject.
"What a time Lady Janet is away!" she said.

"What can be keeping her so long ?" Horace did his best to appear interested in the question of Lady Janet's prolonged absence.

"What made her leave you ?" he asked, standing at the back of the sofa and leaning over her.
"She went into the library to write a note to her nephew.

By-the-by, who is her nephew ?" "Is it possible you don't know ?" "Indeed, I don't." "You have heard of him, no doubt," said Horace.