and..." He sighed, a quick, short, wistful sigh, and said very gently: "I know you did, m'dear, and that is where the trouble lies.

I know that you are fretting, so I have to be so demmed quick about the business, so as not to keep you in suspense too long....

And now I can't take Ffoulkes away from his young wife, and Tony and the others are so mighty slow." "Percy!" she said once more with tender earnestness.
"I know, I know," he said with a slight frown of self-reproach.

"La! but I don't deserve your solicitude.

Heavens know what a brute I was for years, whilst I neglected you, and ignored the noble devotion which I, alas! do even now so little to deserve." She would have said something more, but was interrupted by the entrance of Juliette Marny into the room.
"Some of your guests have arrived, Lady Blakeney," said the young girl, apologising for her seeming intrusion.