"
Lady Tranmore, in her bewilderment, reflected that she had certainly
meant to complete the process whenever she and Mr. Cliffe should meet
again. Aloud she could only say, rather stiffly:
"I can't forget that William disapproves of him strongly."
"Oh no--excuse me--I don't think he does!" said Mary, quickly. "He said
to me, the other day, that he should be very glad to pick his brains
when he came home. And then he laughed and said he was a 'deuced clever
fellow'--excuse the adjective--and it was a great thing to be 'as free
as that chap was'--'without all sorts of boring colleagues and
responsibilities.' Wasn't it like William?"
Lady Tranmore sighed.
"William shouldn't say those things."
"Of course, dear, he was only in fun. But I'll lay you a small wager,
Cousin Elizabeth, that Kitty will ask Mr. Cliffe to lunch as soon as she
knows he is in town."
Lady Tranmore turned away.
"I dare say. No one can answer for what Kitty will do. But Geoffrey
Cliffe has said scandalous things of William."
"He won't say them again," said Mary, soothingly. "Besides, William
never minds being abused a bit--does he?"
"He should mind," said Lady Tranmore, drawing herself up.
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