"I hope not," said Violet.
"Do not say that."
"But I do say it. I hope he has not come to see me;--that is, not to
see me specially. Of course I cannot pretend not to know what you
mean."
"He may think it civil to call if he has heard that you are in town,"
said Lady Laura, after a pause.
"If it be only that, I will be civil in return;--as sweet as May to
him. If it be really only that, and if I were sure of it, I should
be really glad to see him." Then they finished their lunch, and Lady
Laura got up and led the way to the drawing-room.
"I hope you remember," said she, gravely, "that you might be a
saviour to him."
"I do not believe in girls being saviours to men. It is the man who
should be the saviour to the girl. If I marry at all, I have the
right to expect that protection shall be given to me,--not that I
shall have to give it."
"Violet, you are determined to misrepresent what I mean."
Lord Chiltern was walking about the room, and did not sit down when
they entered. The ordinary greetings took place, and Miss Effingham
made some remark about the frost. "But it seems to be going," she
said, "and I suppose that you will soon be at work again?"
"Yes;--I shall hunt to-morrow," said Lord Chiltern.
"And the next day, and the next, and the next," said Violet, "till
about the middle of April;--and then your period of misery will
begin!"
"Exactly," said Lord Chiltern.
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