replies “Capital idea!  Now, David, you’ll be able to have the whole table for your accounts!")....  “It’s coming to this, Honoria,” says David, clearing his throat, “that you will soon be wanting not to be bothered any more with the affairs of Fraser and Warren, and after I really get into the Law business I too shall require to detach myself.  Let us therefore be thankful that Beryl is shaping so well.  I rather think this summer you will have to get more office accommodation and give her some more responsible women to help her.... Now finish what you were saying about Major Armstrong.”

Honoria:  “Of course I shall marry him some day.  I suppose I felt that the day after I first met him.  But it amuses me to be under no illusion.  I am sure this is what happened two years ago—­or whenever it was he came back wounded from your favourite haunt, South Africa.  Michael Rossiter—­who likes ‘Army’ enormously—­I think they were at school or college together—­said to Linda, his wife:  ’Here’s Armstrong.  One of the best.  Wants to marry.  Wife must have a little money, otherwise he’ll have to go on letting Petworth Manor.  And here’s Honoria Fraser, one of the finest women I’ve ever met.  Getting a little long in the tooth—­or will be soon.  Let’s bring ’em together and make a match of it.’

“So we are each convoked for a luncheon, with a projected adjournment to Kew—­which you spoilt—­and there it is.  But joking apart, ‘Army’ is a dear and I am sure by now he wants me even more than my money—­and I certainly want him.  I’m rising thirty and I long for children and don’t want ’em to come to me too late in life.”

David:  “You said he didn’t like me...”

Honoria:  “Oh that was half nonsense.  When we all met last Sunday at the Rossiters he became very jealous and suspicious.  Asked who was that whipper-snapper—­I said you neither whipped nor snapped, especially if kindly treated.  He said then who was that Madonna young man—­a phrase it appears he’d picked up from Lord Cromer, who used to apply it to every new arrival from the Foreign Office—­Armstrong was once his military secretary.  I was surprised to hear he thought you womanish—­I spoke of your fencing, riding,—­was just going to add ‘hockey,’ and ‘croquet’:  then remembered they might be thought feminine pastimes, so referred to your swimming.  Military men always respect a good swimmer; I fancy because many of them funk the water....  I was just going on to explain that you were a cousin of a great friend of mine and helped me in my business, when a commissionaire came from Quansions in a hansom to say that mother was feeling very bad again.  ‘Army’ and I went back in the hansom, but I was crying a little and being a gentleman he did not press his suit...”

Enter Lady Fraser’s nurse on tiptoe.  Says in a very hushed voice “Major Armstrong has called, Miss Fraser.  He came to ask about Lady Fraser.  I said if anything she was a bit better and had had a good sleep.  He then asked if he might see you.”