Samuel made a joke of this, and entertained himself with a pretence of lending ear to her arguments.

This afternoon he had allowed her to talk to him for a long time.

Lilian's sweetness was irresistible, and she came back in high spirits with report of progress.

Denzil, who had just been badgered by a deputation of voters who wished to discover his mind on seven points of strictly non-practical politics, listened with idle amusement.
"Dear girl," he said presently, "the old fellow is fooling you! You can no more convert him than you could the Dalai-Lama to Christianity." "But he speaks quite seriously, Denzil! He owns that he doesn't like Beaconsfield, and"---- "Don't waste your time and your patience.

It's folly, I assure you.
When you are gone he explodes with laughter." Lilian gazed at him for a moment with wide eyes, then burst into tears.
"Good heavens! what is the matter with you, Lily ?" cried Denzil, jumping up.