“You might have come for my sake,” she answered peevishly, sinking back again. “I suppose you have been dancing attendance on the Molesly woman? Lud! but I think you men have gone crazed.”

Understanding came to his Grace, and he smiled provokingly.

“Is that what upsets you? I wondered.”

“No, ’tis not!” she flashed. “And I do not see why you should think so! For my part, I cannot see that she is even tolerable, and the way the men rave about her is disgusting! Disgusting! But ’tis always the same when a woman is unattached and wealthy. Well! Well! Why do you not say something? Do you find her so lovely?”

“To tell the truth, my dear, I have barely set eyes on the lady. I have been otherwise engaged, and I have done with all women, for the time, save one.”

“So I have heard you say before. Do you contemplate marriage? Lud! but I pity the girl.” She gave a jeering little laugh, but it was evident that she was interested.