Lady Gertrude, whose father seemed to have owned half the coverts in Ireland, had never before heard of such enormity.

She suggested a round robin and would not be at all ashamed to put her own name to it.

"Oh, for the matter of that," said Spooner, "Chiltern can be round enough himself without any robin." "He can't be too round," said Lady Gertrude, with a very serious aspect.
At last they moved away, and Phineas found himself riding by the side of Madame Goesler.

It was natural that he should do so, as he had come with her.

Maule had, of course, remained with Miss Palliser, and Chiltern and Spooner had taken themselves to their respective duties.
Phineas might have avoided her, but in doing so he would have seemed to avoid her.