With all her seeming frolic, Violet Effingham is very wise." Phineas, though not conscious of anything akin to jealousy, was annoyed at the revelation made to him.

Since he had heard that Lord Chiltern was in love with Miss Effingham, he did not like Lord Chiltern quite as well as he had done before.

He himself had simply admired Miss Effingham, and had taken pleasure in her society; but, though this had been all, he did not like to hear of another man wanting to marry her, and he was almost angry with Lady Laura for saying that she believed Miss Effingham loved her brother.

If Miss Effingham had twice refused Lord Chiltern, that ought to have been sufficient.

It was not that Phineas was in love with Miss Effingham himself.