It's a part of your cleverness to be able to produce premeditated effects extemporaneously." Lily smiled also: his words were too acute not to strike her sense of humour.

It was true that she meant to use the accident of his presence as part of a very definite effect; or that, at least, was the secret pretext she had found for breaking her promise to walk with Mr.Gryce.

She had sometimes been accused of being too eager--even Judy Trenor had warned her to go slowly.

Well, she would not be too eager in this case; she would give her suitor a longer taste of suspense.

Where duty and inclination jumped together, it was not in Lily's nature to hold them asunder.