’And he has done very well in his office.  And as for his saying that he must smoke, I like that a great deal better than doing it on the sly.’

‘I don’t think Mr Burgess would do anything on the sly, aunt.’

’No, no; I don’t think he would.  Dear me; he’s not at all like what I fancied.’

‘Everybody seemed to like him very much.’

’Didn’t they.  I never saw Sir Peter so much taken.  And there was quite a flirtation between him and Mrs MacHugh.  And now, my dear, tell me about Mr Gibson.’

‘There is nothing to tell, Aunt Stanbury.’

’Isn’t there?  From what I saw going on, I thought there would be something to tell.  He was talking to you the whole evening.’

‘As it happened he was sitting next to me of course.’

’Indeed he was sitting next to you so much so that I thought everything would be settled.’

‘If I tell you something, Aunt Stanbury, you mustn’t be angry with me.’

‘Tell me what?  What is it you have to tell me?’

‘I don’t think I shall ever care for Mr Gibson not in that way.’

‘Why not, Dorothy?’

‘I’m sure he doesn’t care for me.  And I don’t think he means it.’

’I tell you he does mean it.  Mean it!  Why, I tell you it has all been settled between us.  Since I first spoke to you I have explained to him exactly what I intend to do, He knows that he can give up his house and come and live here.  I am sure he must have said something about it to you tonight.’

‘Not a word, Aunt Stanbury.’

‘Then he will.’

’Dear aunt, I do so wish you would prevent it.  I don’t like him.  I don’t indeed.’

‘Not like him!’

’No I don’t care for him a bit, and I never shall.  I can’t help it, Aunt Stanbury.  I thought I would try, but I find it would be impossible.  You can’t want me to marry a man if I don’t love him.’

’I never heard of such a thing in my life.  Not love him!  And why shouldn’t you love him?  He’s a gentleman.  Everybody respects him.  He’ll have plenty to make you comfortable all your life!  And then why didn’t you tell me before?’

‘I didn’t know, Aunt Stanbury.  I thought that perhaps—­’

‘Perhaps what?’

’I could not say all at once that I didn’t care for him, when I had never so much as thought about it for a moment before.’

‘You haven’t told him this?’

‘No, I have not told him.  I couldn’t begin by telling him, you know.’

’Then I must pray that you will think about it again.  Have you imagined what a great thing for you it would be to be established for life so that you should never have any more trouble again about a home, or about money, or anything?  Don’t answer me now, Dorothy, but think of it.  It seemed to me that I was doing such an excellent thing for both of you.’  So saying Miss Stanbury left the room, and Dorothy was enabled to obey her, at any rate, in one matter.  She did think of it.  She laid awake thinking of it almost all the night.  But the more she thought of it, the less able was she to realise to herself any future comfort or happiness in the idea of becoming Mrs Gibson.