then felt regret, for Miss Fancourt, so late in the afternoon, might
return at any moment. But her father gave him no second chance; he
appeared mainly to wish not to have struck him as ungracious. A further
look at the visitor had recalled something, enough at least to enable him
to say: "You've come back, you've come back?" Paul was on the point of
replying that he had come back the night before, but he suppressed, the
next instant, this strong light on the immediacy of his visit and, giving
merely a general assent, alluded to the young lady he deplored not having
found. He had come late in the hope she would be in. "I'll tell
her--I'll tell her," said the old man; and then he added quickly,
gallantly: "You'll be giving us something new? It's a long time, isn't
it?" Now he remembered him right.

"Rather long. I'm very slow." Paul explained. "I met you at Summersoft
a long time ago."

"Oh yes--with Henry St. George. I remember very well. Before his poor
wife--" General Fancourt paused a moment, smiling a little less. "I dare
say you know."

"About Mrs. St. George's death? Certainly--I heard at the time."

"Oh no, I mean--I mean he's to be married."

"Ah I've not heard that!" But just as Paul was about to add "To whom?"
the General crossed his intention.

"When did you come back? I know you've been away--by my daughter. She
was very sorry. You ought to give her something new."