But she still felt very angry with Septimus.
When Clem Sypher came down to Penton Court for the week-end, he treated the matter lightly.
"He knew that he was acceptable to your mother and yourself, so he has done nothing dishonorable.

All he wanted was your sister and the absence of fuss.

I think it sporting of him.

I do, truly." "And I think you're detestable!" cried Zora.

"There's not a single man that can understand." "What do you want me to understand ?" "I don't know," said Zora, "but you ought to understand it." A day or two later, meeting Rattenden again, she found that he comprehended her too fully.
"What would have pleased you," said he, "would have been to play the _soeur noble_, to have gathered the young couple in your embrace, and magnanimously given them to each other, and smiled on the happiness of which you had been the bounteous dispenser.