Page:Anthony Hope - The Dolly Dialogues.djvu/52

 'I wonder if I've met him', said I. 'I'm occasionally in town, when I can get time to run up. What's his name?'

'I don't think I heard—or I've forgotten. But he's got the place next to a friend of mine in the country, and she told me all about him. She's exactly the opposite sort of person—or she wouldn't be my friend.'

'I should think not. Miss Milton,' said I admiringly.

'Oh, I should like to meet that man, and tell him what I think of him!' said she. 'Such men as he is do more harm than a dozen agitators. So contemptible, too!'

'It's revolting to think of,' said I.

'I'm so glad you' began Miss Milton, quite confidentially; I pulled my chair a trifle closer, and cast an apparently careless glance towards Mrs. Hilary. Suddenly I heard a voice behind me.

'Eh, what? Upon my honour it is! Why, Carter, my boy, how are you? Eh, what? Miss Milton, too, I declare! Well, now, what a pity Annie didn't come!'

I disagreed. I hate Annie. But I was very glad to see my friend and neighbour, Robert Dinnerly. He's a sensible man—his wife's a little prig.

'Oh, Mr. Dinnerly,' cried Miss Milton, 'how funny that you should come just now! I was just trying to remember the name of a man Mrs. Dinnerly told me about. I was telling Mr. Carter about him. You know him.'