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" Ah," said Mrs. Chetwynd, "a fellow thinks so for a week or two or a month or two ; but he is easily consoled at last, and comes to regard what at one time he would call a disappointment as a very fortunate circumstance."
" No, Mrs. Chetwynd, not a bit of it. The only conso- lation he has is in trying to get all he can out of the proverb that < While there's life there's hope.' Did you see the Milbankes before they left ? "
" Well, to tell you the truth," said Mrs. Chetwynd, " I have seen very little of the Milbankes. I have heard a great deal about Miss Norcott and Mrs. Milbanke from Dick, and of course I have seen a great deal of Philip Forsyth."
" Yes," said Swynford, " very clever, interesting young fellow."
" You have met him, then ? " said Mrs. Chetwynd.
" Oh, yes," said Swynford, "dined with him not very long ago at the Milbankes'. Will you forgive me, Mrs. Chetwynd, for pressing my confidence upon you ? You see I am, as one might put it, more than usually a bachelor in every sense of the term ; no sisters, no mother, no woman-folk, as they say down in Yorkshire, to consult. You know all about what has happened to me, and what has happened to Miss Norcott. Has it occurred to you that the engagement was rather hurried and probably unduly supported by Dolly's relatives?"
" Well," said Mrs. Chetwynd, " I really can't say ; and you need not apologize for asking me the question. I know that Dick has always thought that marriage would be a good thing for Philip, and we did not know until the other day how much you are reported to have liked Mrs. Mil- banke's sister."
" We are chatting between ourselves now, are we not ? " said Sam, anxious to have a confidante. " Liked her ! Mrs. Chetwynd, I would have given twenty years of my
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