"And I hope that at all times you will use the discretion that is owing to me." "If I don't, I shall deserve to fall into worse difficulties than ever," cried Lashmar.
"As, for instance, to find yourself under the necessity of making your mock contract a real one--which would be sufficiently tragic." Constance spoke with a laugh, and thereupon, before Dyce could make any rejoinder, walked from the room.
The philosopher stood embarrassed.

"What did she mean by that ?" he asked himself.

He had never felt on very solid ground in his dealings with Constance; had never felt sure in his reading of her character, his interpretation of her ways and looks and speeches.

An odd thing that he should have been betrayed by his sense of triumphant diplomacy into that foolish excess.

And he remembered that it was the second such indiscretion, though this time, happily, not so compromising as his youthful extravagance at Alverholme.
What if Lady Ogram, feeling that her end drew near, called for their speedy marriage?
Was it the thought of such possibility that had supplied Constance with her sharp-edged jest?
If she could laugh, the risk did not seem to her very dreadful.