“Well, he seemed rather impressed by her field qualities,” concluded Cardross weakly.

His wife waited.

Her husband lit a cigar very carefully:  “That’s all I noticed, dear.”

Mrs. Cardross laid the narrow bit of woven blue silk on her knee and smoothed it reflectively.

“Neville!”

“Yes, dear.”

“I wonder whether Mr. Hamil has heard.”

Her husband did not misunderstand.  “I think it likely.  That old harridan—­”

“Please, Neville!”

“Well, then, Mrs. Van Dieman has talked ever since you and Shiela sat on the aspirations of her impossible son.”

“You think Mr. Hamil knows?”

“Why not?  Everybody does, thanks to that venomous old lady and her limit of an offspring.”

“And in spite of that you think Mr. Hamil might be seriously impressed?”

“Why not?” repeated Cardross.  “She’s the sweetest, cleanest-cut sportsman—­”

[Illustration:  “Examining the pile of plans, reports, and blue-prints.”]

“Dear, a field-trial is not what we are discussing.”

“No, of course.  But those things count with a man.  And besides, admitting that the story is all over Palm Beach and New York by this time, is there a more popular girl here than our little Shiela?  Look at the men—­troops of ’em!  Alex Anan knew when he tried his luck.  You had to tell Mr. Cuyp, but Shiela was obliged to turn him down after all.  It certainly has not intimidated anybody.  Do you remember two years ago how persistent Louis Malcourt was until you squelched him?”

“Yes; but he didn’t know the truth then.  He acts sometimes as though he knew it now.  I don’t think he would ask Shiela again.  And, Neville, if Mr. Hamil does not know, and if you think there is the slightest chance of Shiela becoming interested in him, he ought to be told—­indirectly.  Unhappiness for both might lie in his ignorance.”

“Shiela would tell him before he—­”

“Of course.  But—­it might then be too late for her—­if he prove less of a man than we think him!  He comes from a family whose connections have always thought a great deal of themselves—­in the narrower sense; a family not immune from prejudice.  His aunt, Miss Palliser, is very amiable; but, dear, we must not make the mistake that she could consider Shiela good enough for her nephew.  One need not be a snob to hesitate under the pitiful circumstances.”

“If I know Hamil, he’ll ask little advice from his relatives—­”

“But he will receive plenty, Neville.”

Cardross shrugged.  “Then it’s up to him, Amy.”

“Exactly.  But do you wish to have our little Shiela in a position where her declared lover hesitates?  And so I say, Neville, that it is better for her that Mr. Hamil should know the truth in ample time to reconsider any sentiment before he utters it.  It is only fair to him and to Shiela.  That is all.”