' Then he got up and, after making formal adieux
to both the ladies, left the house.
As soon as he was gone Lady Mabel began to laugh, but the least
apprehensive ears would have perceived that the laughter was
affected. Miss Cassewary did not laugh at all, but sat bolt
upright and looked very serious. 'Upon my honour,' said the
younger lady, 'he is the most beautifully simple-minded human
being I ever knew in my life.'
'Then I wouldn't laugh at him.'
'How can one help it? But of course I do it with a purpose.'
'What purpose?'
'I think he is making a fool of himself. If somebody does not
interfere he will go so far that he will not be able to draw back
without misbehaving.'
'I thought,' said Miss Cassewary, in a very low voice, almost
whispering. 'I thought that he was looking for a wife elsewhere.'
'You need not think of it again,' said Lady Mab, jumping up from
her seat. 'I had thought of it too. But as I told you before, I
spared him. He did not really mean it with me;--nor does he mean it
with this American girl. Such young men seldom mean.
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