said I, grasping it. I thought still that she meant to bury all unkindness.
'I should never have thought it of you,' she went on.
'I didn't know your friend was there at all,' I pleaded; for by now I was alarmed.
'Oh, please don't shuffle like that,' said Mrs. Hilary.
She continued to stand, and I rose to my feet. Mrs. Hilary held out her hand again.
'Do you mean that I'm to go?' said I.
'I hope we shall see you again some day,' said Mrs. Hilary; the tone suggested that she was looking forward to some future existence, when my earthly sins should have been sufficiently purged. It reminded me for the moment of King Arthur and Queen Guinevère.
'But I protest,' I began, 'that my only object in telling you was to show you how absurd'
'Is it any good talking about it now?' asked Mrs. Hilary. A discussion might possibly be fruitful in the dim futurity before mentioned—but not now—that was what she seemed to say.
'Lady Mickleham and I, on the occasion in question' I began with dignity.
'Pray spare me,' quoth Mrs. Hilary, with much greater dignity.
I took my hat.
'Shall you be at home as usual on Thursday?' I asked.
'I have a great many people coming already,' she remarked.
