'Quite so; she seems a very nice young woman. Very devoted to her husband. And I think him a most superior man! He sat next to me at dinner, and I had quite a long talk with him. We spoke of you. He told me something that surprised me so much. He said that you had been seen very frequently lately about alone with a young man. Is this a fact?' 'What did he say about it?' 'Well, he seemed to regret it--he seemed to think it was a pity. Living alone as you do, it certainly is not the right thing for you to be seen anywhere without Miss Yeo.' Hyacinth became crimson. 'On what grounds did Mr Ottley find fault with anything I do?' 'Merely general grounds, my dear. A very proper dislike to the flighty behaviour of the girls of the present day. As he tells me, he feels it as a father--' 'Father! He has only a little boy of two. I think it's very impertinent of him to talk of me like that at all.' 'On the contrary, I thought it exceedingly nice of him. He sincerely wishes you well, Hyacinth. Oh, _how_ well that young man wishes you! Make no mistake about it. By the way, I promised him not to mention his name in the matter. So of course you won't repeat it. But I was really rather upset at what he said. I haven't said anything to Sir Charles yet, as I thought you might give me some explanation.' 'I have no explanation to give. I suppose you know who it is I was walking with?' 'I gathered that it was a Mr Reeve. Now, Hyacinth dear, you know how much I wish you well; if you're engaged, I think your guardian and I ought to know it, and in any case you should be more discreet in your behaviour.' Hyacinth's eyes flashed. 'Are you engaged?' asked Lady Cannon. 'I must decline to answer. I recognise no right that you or anyone else has to ask me such a question.' Lady Cannon rose indignantly, leaving her coffee untouched. 'Very well, Hyacinth; if this is the way you take my kind advice and well-meant interest, there's nothing more to be said. Of course, I shall tell Sir Charles what I've heard. From what I can gather from that excellent young man Mr Ottley, Mr Reeve is by no means a person that Sir Charles and I would be glad to welcome with open arms, as one of the family.' 'Cecil Reeve is a friend of mine. There's nothing in the world to be said against him, and you must really allow me the privilege of choosing my own friends.' 'Good-bye then,' said Lady Cannon, going to the door. 'I'm pained, grieved, and shocked at your attitude. I can only presume, however, that you are not engaged to be married, for surely your first thought would have been to ask your guardian's consent; and once more let me tell you, in being reckless as you have, you're simply ruining your future.' With this Lady Cannon swept from the room.