You are not a pessimist--eh?"

Guy gravely examined the back of his gloved hand. "Well, I am
afraid I have not given much thought to the question."

Lady Cantourne gave him the benefit of a very wise smile. She was
unrivalled in the art of turning a young man's mind inside out and
shaking it.

"No! you need not apologise. I am glad you have given no thought to
it. Thought is the beginning of pessimism, especially with young
men; for if they think at all, they naturally think of themselves."

"Well, I suppose I think as much of myself as other people."

"Possibly; but I doubt it. Will you ring the bell? We will have
some tea."

He obeyed, and she watched him with approval. For some reason--
possibly because he had not sought it--Lady Cantourne had bestowed
her entire approval on this young man. She had been duly informed,
a few weeks before this visit, that Miss Millicent Chyne had engaged
herself to be married to Jack Meredith whenever that youth should
find himself in a position to claim the fulfilment of her promise.
She said nothing against the choice or the decision, merely
observing that she was sorry that Jack had quarrelled with his
father. By way of counsel she advised strongly that the engagement
be kept as much in the background as possible. She did not, she
said, want Millicent to be a sort of red rag to Sir John, and there
was no necessity to publish abroad the lamentable fact that a