Is it not strange that Miss Eyrecourt has never been married ?" The trap had been elaborately set; Father Benwell had every reason to anticipate that Miss Notman would walk into it.

The disconcerting housekeeper walked up to it--and then proved unable to advance a step further.
"I once made the same remark myself to Lady Loring," she said.
Father Benwell's pulse began to quicken its beat.

"Yes ?" he murmured, in tones of the gentlest encouragement.
"And her ladyship," Miss Notman proceeded, "did not encourage me to go on.

'There are reasons for not pursuing that subject,' she said; 'reasons into which, I am sure, you will not expect me to enter.' She spoke with a flattering confidence in my prudence, which I felt gratefully.

Such a contrast to her tone when the omelet presented itself in the order of the dishes! As I said just now I am not a married woman.
But if I proposed to my husband to give him an oyster-omelet after his puddings and his pies, I should not be surprised if he said to me, 'My dear, have you taken leave of your senses ?' I reminded Lady Loring (most respectfully) that a _cheese_-omelette might be in its proper place if it followed the sweets.