existed between us so long for something stronger. That although
she (Lady Warburton) quite appreciated the fact that one who wrote
books, and occasionally a play, was not necessarily immoral -
Still I was, of course, a terrible Bohemian, and the air of Bohemia
was not calculated to conduce to that degree of matrimonial harmony
which she (Lady Warburton) as Elizabeth's Aunt, standing to her in
place of a mother, could wish for. That, therefore, under these
circumstances my attentions were - etc., etc.

Here I would say in justice to myself that despite the torrent of
her eloquence I had at first made some attempt at resistance; but
who could hope to contend successfully against a woman possessed
of such an indomitable nose and chin, and one, moreover, who could
level a pair of lorgnette with such deadly precision? Still, had
Lisbeth been beside me things might have been different even then;
but she had gone away into the country - so Lady Warburton had
informed me. Thus alone and at her mercy, she had succeeded in
wringing from me a half promise that I would cease my attentions
for the space of six months, "just to give dear Elizabeth time to
learn her own heart in regard to the matter."

This was last Monday. On the Wednesday following, as I wandered
aimlessly along Piccadilly, at odds with Fortune and myself, but
especially with myself, my eye encountered the Duchess of Chelsea.

The Duchess is familiarly known as the "Conversational Brook" from
the fact that when once she begins she goes on forever. Hence,
being in my then frame of mind, it was with a feeling of rebellion
that I obeyed the summons of her parasol and crossed over to the
brougham.