Mayrant, explained to me by any one? I merely meant to say that he, and
not she, is the person who will make the lucky escape. Of course, he is
honorable--a great deal too much so for his own good. It is a misfortune,
nowadays, to be born a gentleman in America. But, as I told you, I am not
solicitous. What she is counting on--because she thinks she understands
true Kings Port honor, and does not in the least--is his renouncing her
on account of the phosphates--the bad news, I mean. They could live on
what he has--not at all in her way, though--and besides, after once
offering his genuine, ardent, foolish love--for it was genuine enough at
the time--John would never--"

She stopped; but I took her up. "Did I understand you to say that his
love was genuine at the lime?"

"Oh, he thinks it is now--insists it is now! That is just precisely what
would make him--do you not see?--stick to his colors all the closer."

"Goodness!" I murmured. "What a predicament!"

But my hostess nodded easily. "Oh, no. You will see. They will all see."

I rose to take my leave; my visit, indeed, had been, for very interest,
prolonged beyond the limits of formality--my hostess had attended quite
thoroughly to my being entertained. And at this point the other, the more
severe and elderly lady, made her contribution to my entertainment. She
had kept silence, I now felt sure, because gossip was neither her habit
nor to her liking. Possibly she may have also felt that her displeasure
had been too manifest; at any rate, she spoke out of her silence in cold,
yet rich, symmetrical tones.