She dropped her hands, after giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"I know where you're going! It's Madame d'Estrées' evening."

"Well--you don't object?"

"Object?" She shrugged her shoulders. "So long as it amuses you--You
won't find _one_ woman there to-night."

"Last time there were two," he said, smiling, as he rose from the sofa.

"I know--Lady Quantock--and Mrs. Mallory. Now they've deserted her, I
hear. What fresh gossip has turned up I don't know. Of course," she
sighed, "I've been out of the world. But I believe there have been
developments."

"Well, I don't know anything about it--and I don't think I want to know.
She's very agreeable, and one meets everybody there."

"_Everybody_. Ungallant creature!" she said, giving a little pull to his
collar, the set of which did not please her.

"Sorry! Mother!"--his laughing eyes pursued her--"Do you want to marry
me off directly?--I know you do!"

"I want nothing but what you yourself should want. Of course, you must
marry."

"The young women don't care twopence about me!"