On a matter of business,' he added, noticing Miss Rowly's surprised look.

The old lady was old-fashioned even for her age; in her time no young man would have asked to see a young lady alone on business.

Except on one kind of business; and with regard to that kind of business gentlemen had to obtain first the confidence and permission of guardians.

Leonard saw the difficulty and said quickly: 'It is on the matter you wrote to me about!' Stephen was prepared for a nasty shock, but hardly for so nasty a one as this.

There was an indelicacy about it which went far beyond the bounds of thoughtless conventionality.