She welcomed me with a great show of cordiality; but before I had been five minutes in the room I found out that my visit was inopportune, though Max seemed unfeignedly pleased to see me, and she had repeated his words in almost parrot-like fashion.

'Oh yes, I am so glad to see you, Miss Garston! it is so good of you to call when dear Gladys is away! Of course I know she is the attraction: we all know that, do we not ?' smiling sweetly upon me.

'She has been away more than five weeks now,--dear, dear! how time flies!--really five weeks, and this is your first call.' 'You know how Miss Locke's illness has engrossed me,' I remonstrated.
'I never pretend to mere conventional calls.' 'No, indeed.

You have a code of your own, have you not?
Your niece is fortunate, Mr.Cunliffe.She makes her own laws, while we poor inferior mortals are obliged to conform to the world's dictates.

I wish I were strong-minded like you.