Did he blush from modesty, or because Clarice made the suggestion?
Mrs.Willoughby asked Fielding for an answer as he stood by the door of her brougham, before she drove away from Beaufort Gardens.
'For both reasons, I should say,' he replied.
'You think, then, he's attracted?
He hardly showed signs of it, except that once, and modesty alone might account for that.' Mrs.Willoughby laid some insistence upon the possibility.
'I should have been inclined to agree with you,' answered Fielding, 'but Drake dragged me round the square before lunch to question me about Mallinson.' 'That makes for your view, certainly.

What did you tell him ?' 'I painted the portrait which I thought he wanted, picked out Mallinson's vices in clear colours and added a few which occurred to me at the moment.

However, Drake closed my mouth with--"He's a hard worker, though."' 'I like the man for that!' cried Mrs.Willoughby, and checked herself suddenly.
'Yes, he's honest certainly.' 'But was he right ?' 'Quite! Mallinson works very hard; scents danger, I suppose.' Mrs.Willoughby heaved a sigh of relief.
'There's some chance for him, then.

Will he do anything great ?' Fielding laughed.
'That's one of the questions Drake put to me! I think never.' Mrs.Willoughby accepted the dictum without asking for the reason.

She sat for a moment disconsolately thoughtful.