"I had a reason of my own for going," Julian said at last.
"Yes?" rejoined Lady Janet, prepared to wait (if necessary) till
the next morning.
"A reason," Julian resumed, "which I would rather not mention."
"Oh!" said Lady Janet. "Another mystery--eh? And another woman at
the bottom of it, no doubt. Thank you--that will do--I am
sufficiently answered. No wonder, as a clergyman, that you look a
little confused. There is, perhaps, a certain grace, under the
circumstances, in looking confused. We will change the subject
again. You stay here, of course, now you have come back?"
Once more the famous pulpit orator seemed to find himself in the
inconceivable predicament of not knowing what to say. Once more
Lady Janet looked resigned to wait (if necessary) until the
middle of next week.
Julian took refuge in an answer worthy of the most commonplace
man on the face of the civilized earth.
"I beg your ladyship to accept my thanks and my excuses," he
said.
Lady Janet's many-ringed fingers, mechanically stroking the cat
in her lap, began to stroke him the wrong way.
Lady Janet's inexhaustible patience showed signs of failing her
at last.
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