"Indeed! You don't mean to say you are in love with Victoria Sheldon still?" Otterburn arose to his feet with an angry laugh, and began to walk slowly to and fro with his hands in his pockets. "Is there anything so extraordinary in that? I loved Miss Sheldon and she refused to marry me, so I tried to forget her. Well, I haven't forgotten her, and I've come back to Town expressly to ask her to be my wife. I daresay I'm a fool, but you're not in love, and cannot understand the feeling." "Can I not!" answered Gartney serenely, thinking of Lady Errington, "well, I don't know so much about that. Have you met Miss Sheldon yet?" "No. "That doesn't sound like an eager lover." "I daresay it doesn't," retorted Angus coolly, "but you see I've learnt sense since my first rebuff, and now gang warily, as the Scotch say. I'm not going to let Miss Sheldon see I care two straws about her till I find out the state of her feelings towards me." "Astute diplomatist!--then I suppose you won't call with me on my respected aunt?" "And meet Miss Sheldon!--hardly! I'm going to wait till I see her at a fancy-dress ball Mrs. Veilsturm gives shortly." "Oh!" said Eustace, removing his pipe, "is that lady still in the flesh?" "Very much so, indeed According to Mr. Adolphus Thambits--of whom you've no doubt heard--her house is quite a fashionable centre." Gartney made a gesture of disgust, and arose to his feet. "Good Lord! what are we coming to? I thought people would have found out Mrs. Veilsturm and her scamp of a Major long ago. I met them last time I was in London. I suppose they still have the little Sunday evenings, and talk about the West Indian estates?" "Yes, I believe so." "Humph! I should not have thought Aunt Jelly would have let her ward visit Mrs. Veilsturm." "Why not? She is in the odour of sanctity--no one knows her little peccadilloes, or, if they do, don't talk about them. I suppose few people except the initiated know about the real business of those Sunday evenings. Mrs. Veilsturm is all white--on the surface--so not even her dearest friend can throw mud at her." "You are getting quite eloquent, Otterburn," observed Eustace smiling; "I suppose, when you're married and settled we'll hear of you in Parliament." "I'm not married and settled yet!--perhaps I never will be," replied Otterburn gloomily. "You don't seem very hopeful," remarked Eustace, with gentle sarcasm, "but as you won't come to Aunt Jelly's, suppose I play the part of Cupid's messenger, and find out how the land lies with Victoria Sheldon." "Oh, if you only would," cried Angus eagerly; "but no! I'm afraid there's not much chance for me. I daresay she has forgotten I ever existed." "Oh, if that is the case I'll soon improve her memory! Cheer up--while there's life there's hope." "Not always," responded Angus gloomily, "particularly in this case. I called her a coquette last time we parted."