"And so you see, don't you, Lady Walmer, that I really simply couldn't do it--I mean I must do it. They're expecting me there for the whole summer. How could I throw them over at the last minute?" Harry spoke in his most convincing voice. He was calling on Lady Walmer, and they were both sitting in her little yellow boudoir. She had just come in from a bazaar, and was wearing a rather angry-looking hat, very much turned up on one side, with enormous purple feathers. She was looking very far from pleased. Her handsome chin appeared squarer than usual. There was a look in her eyes that more than one man besides Harry would have been by no means anxious to meet. She drew off her gloves, stroked one over the other thoughtfully, and said-- "Why did you promise to come on the yacht? The whole summer's spoilt for Alec." "I hoped I could--I thought I could manage it. Surely you understand----" "But it's got to come to that sooner or later, Harry. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. If you want to be a respectable, dull married man, you'll have to dissolve your romance, you know. I should have thought you were the last person to be weak about anybody else's feelings!--No, it's your own, my dear boy." Harry's colour rose a little. "My dear Lady Walmer! I'm going to tell--my cousin Valentia--all about it--I mean about my hopes. I'm certain that she will be charming about it--only too glad, for my sake." "Oh! And yet I thought she was human! Or--is there some one else?" "Certainly there's some one else--there's Romer. She's very devoted to him." "Harry, my boy, we should get on so very much better if you wouldn't tell so many unnecessary fibs," remarked the lady. She stood up and drew the hatpins out of her hat. He said, "I'm quite frank with you. I don't think I've been anything else. And, after all, I only ask to do it in my own way--at my own time. To choose my moment. Really, one can't behave like an _impossible_ bounder." "Oh, can't one? Well, perhaps not." She took the hat off and put it on a table, giving the impression suddenly, without it, of being smooth, a little bald, and very good-tempered. "Then you'll forgive me, Lady Walmer--you'll understand? I should think that in about three or four weeks I shall be able to join you somewhere. But, about fixing the date--that's impossible. Can't I see Alec to-day?" She smiled graciously. "Certainly you may; I want you to. You must cheer her up and say nice things to her. Poor child, I wish she weren't so ridiculously pleased with you. You don't care two straws for her." "I give you my word of honour that I will make her happy." "I suppose you'll make her as happy as any one would. It's always something to get one's wish, even if the wish is a failure." "Now, why do you say that? It won't be a failure."