Page:The Private Life, Lord Beaupré, The Visits (New York, Harper & Brothers, 1893).djvu/197

Rh ?" she continued. She was bound in common hospitality to speak of that, and he answered that it would give him the greatest pleasure. After this her apprehension increased, and it was confirmed in particular by the manner in which he suddenly asked:

"By-the-way, what reason shall we give?"

"What reason?"

"For our rupture. Don't let us seem to have quarrelled."

"We can't help that," said Mary. "Nothing else will account for our behavior."

"Well, I sha'n't say anything about you."

"Do you mean you'll let people think it was yourself who were tired of it?"

"I mean I sha'n't blame you."

"You ought to behave as if you cared!" said Mary.

Guy Firminger laughed, but he looked worried, and he evidently was puzzled. "You must act as if you had jilted me."

"You're not the sort of person, unfortunately, that people jilt."

Lord Beaupré appeared to accept this statement as incontestable; not with