“My dear Traddles,” said I, “I am delighted to see you at last, and very sorry I have not been at home before. But I have been so much engaged⁠—”

“Yes, yes, I know,” said Traddles, “of course. Yours lives in London, I think.”

“What did you say?”

“She⁠—excuse me⁠—Miss D. , you know,” said Traddles, colouring in his great delicacy, “lives in London, I believe?”

“Oh yes. Near London.”

“Mine, perhaps you recollect,” said Traddles, with a serious look, “lives down in Devonshire⁠—one of ten. Consequently, I am not so much engaged as you⁠—in that sense.”

“I wonder you can bear,” I returned, “to see her so seldom.”