 that
Miss Doran gives me no opportunity of paying her attentions, if I wished.
Certainly I have had conversations with Mrs. Lessingham, but I see no reason why
I should deny myself that pleasure.«
    »This is sophistry. You walked about the museum with both these ladies for a
long time yesterday.«
    Clifford was startled, and could not conceal it.
    »Of course,« he exclaimed, »if my movements are watched, with a view to my
accusation -!«
    And he broke off significantly.
    »Your movements are not watched. But if I happen to hear of such things, I
must draw my own conclusions.«
    »I give you my assurance that the meeting was purely by chance, and that our
conversation was solely of indifferent matters - of art, of Pompeii, and so on.«
    »Perhaps you are not aware,« resumed Mrs. Denyer, with a smile that made
caustic comment on this apology, »that, when we sit at table, your eyes are
directed to Miss Doran with a frequency that no one can help observing.«
    Marsh hesitated; then, throwing his head back, remarked in an unapproachable
manner:
    »Mrs. Denyer, you will not forget that I am an artist.«
    »I don't forget that you profess to be one, Mr. Marsh.«
    This was retort with a vengeance. Clifford reddened slightly, and looked
angry. Mrs. Denyer had reached the point to which her remarks were from the
first directed, and it was not her intention to spare the young man's
susceptibilities. She had long ago gauged him, and not inaccurately on the
whole; it seemed to her that he was of the men who can be managed.
    »I fail to understand you,« said Marsh, with dignity.
    »My dear Clifford, let me speak to you as one who has your well-being much
at heart. I have no wish to hurt your feelings, but I have been upset by this
silly affair, and it makes me speak a little sharply. Now, I see well enough
what you have been about; it is an old device of young gentlemen who wish to
revenge themselves just a little for what they think a slight. Of course you
have never given a thought to Miss Doran, who, as you say, would never dream of
carrying on a flirtation, for she knows how things are between you and Madeline,
and she is a young lady of very proper behaviour. In no case, as you of course
understand, could she be so
