"Her ladyship," he explained, "has gone forth in person to seek Lord Rotherby.

She believes that she knows where to find him--in some disreputable haunt, no doubt, whither her ladyship would have been better advised to have sent a servant.

But women are wayward cattle--wayward, headstrong cattle! Have you not found them so, Mr.
Caryll ?" "I have found that the opinion is common to most husbands," said Mr.
Caryll, then added a question touching Mistress Winthrop, and wondered would she not be joining them at table.
"The poor child keeps her chamber," said the earl.

"She is overwrought--overwrought! I am afraid her ladyship--" He broke off abruptly, and coughed.

"She is overwrought," he repeated in conclusion.
"So that we dine alone." And alone they dined.