"Never, until to-day," was her sharp retort. "I suppose you think that, because of your responsible official position, you ought now to develop into the old fogey, marry some scraggy girl with red hair and half a million, and settle down to sober statesmanship and the Carlton. As you have found the future partner of your joys, you think it high time to drop an undesirable acquaintance." Her words were hard ones, spoken in a tone of biting sarcasm. In an instant his countenance grew serious. "No, Claudia," he protested quickly. "You entirely misjudge me. I have neither the intention nor the inclination to marry. Moreover, I confess to you that I am becoming rather tired of the everlasting monotony of the House. The scraggy female with the red hair, who, according to your gospel, is to be the _chatelaine_ of Wroxeter, is still unselected. No. You have not understood me, and have formed entirely wrong conclusions as to my motive in speaking as I have. I repeat that the step I am now taking is one for our mutual advantage. People may talk about us in Belgravia, but they must not in Battersea." "And you wish every one to know that we have quarrelled?" she said petulantly. He saw by her countenance that she was still puzzled. Was it possible that she was thinking of the unknown Muriel, whom she had declared he must marry? As a matchmaker, Claudia was certainly entering upon an entirely new _role_. "We shall not quarrel, I hope," he answered. "Why should we? By mutual consent we shall merely remain apart." There was another long and painful silence. Her chiffons slowly rose and fell as she sighed. What he had said had produced a greater impression upon her than he anticipated. No other man could have spoken to her as he had done, for every word of his brought back to her the long-forgotten days of their youthful love, and of those passionate kisses beneath the stars. In those brief moments she tried to examine her heart, but could not decide whether she still loved him, or whether his intention of leaving her had only aroused within her a sense of offended dignity. "And your determination is never to see me?" she asked him in a despondent tone of voice. "I shall only meet you upon chance occasions in society," was his answer. "And when people have forgotten--then you will return to me? Give me your promise, Dudley." "I cannot promise." "Ah!" she cried; "why not at once confess what I believe is the truth, that you have grown tired of me?" "No. I have not grown tired," he declared in a fervent voice. "We have always been firm friends, and I hope that our friendship will continue. For my own part, my regard for you, Claudia, is not in the least impaired. You are a woman, and the victim of circumstances. Hence, I shall always remain faithfully your friend."