“I do not want you good!” Richard assured her. “I want you to be your own dear self!”⁠ ⁠… Lady Lavinia disengaged herself with a contented little sigh, and stood up.

“How charming it is to be happy again, to be sure!” she remarked naively. “To think that only half an hour ago I was wishing to be dead!” She went over to the glass and straightened her hair.

Richard looked at her rather anxiously.

“Lavinia⁠—you⁠—you quite understand, I am going to tell everyone the truth⁠—next Friday?” he asked.

“Yes, I do, of course⁠—’tis dreadfully disagreeable of you, but I suppose you will do it. I do hope people will not refuse to recognise us, though.”

“No one would ever refuse to recognise you, dearest.”

She brightened.