"Many persons rolled into one! You are!" said the earl emphatically, setting down his glass. "Only I never _can_ take my choice. If Mr. Wyndham has succeeded in doing so, I offer him my congratulations. Oh, by the way, talking of congratulations, it is true, I suppose, that you are going to be married!" Lady Betty looked down and manipulated her fish. "One of these days," said Wyndham lightly. "There is no date fixed yet." "Ah," said the earl. "How is your _fiancee_?" "Perfectly well," said Wyndham. "First-rate." "A Miss--er--Llewellyn--wasn't it?" "Miss Robinson," corrected Wyndham. "Oh, ah--Miss Robinson! Yes, yes, that was the name--perfectly!" said the earl. "Mind you give her my compliments and respects.... By the way, Betty, did I tell you I'm sick of the climate? We shall have thrown out the Embankment Bill by the end of the week, and then I can turn my back on the House. It'll be Egypt or a voyage to Japan--why, I might meet Mr. Wyndham on his honeymoon!--eh?--what? I'll go across to Cockspur Street this afternoon, and see what's sailing." "Shall I come with you, father, and help you to make up your mind?" "If you'll be so kind," said the earl. "It was my intention to suggest that you should accompany me a great deal further than that, but I changed my mind just now." "That is very considerate of you, father." "Not at all, not at all." The earl made a movement of deprecation. "You couldn't come till the end of the month, so I simply make a virtue of necessity." "You horrify me, father. You are making Mr. Wyndham think you are sorry I am standing to him." "It's only my fun, little girl. You don't really suppose I want my own daughter trotting behind my tail, and keeping her watchful, charming eye on all my doings. No, no, no! I had it in mind to suggest your joining me as a matter of form. You might have liked it, and I wanted to do the proper thing. But I'm only too glad of the opportunity of having you off my hands. Mr. Wyndham was really providential. Meanwhile I shall be proud to think of the nice little picture of you--I beg your pardon, of one side of you--hanging in the Salon." "If you take one of the long voyages, I presume you'll be away some months," ventured Wyndham.