‘How can that be if you seem old friends?’

’Well, he likes me; and there’s no harm in that, so long as he understands.  I’m sure you wouldn’t like him.  He’s a rough, coarse sort of man, and has a dreadful temper.’

‘Good gracious!  What is his position?’

’Oh, he’s connected with the what-d’ye-call-it Electric Lighting Company.  He travels about a good deal.  I shouldn’t mind that; it must be rather nice not to have one’s husband always at home.  Just now I believe he’s in Ireland.  I shall be having a letter from him very soon, no doubt.  He doesn’t know I’ve left home, and it’ll make him wild.  Yes, that’s the kind of man he is.  Fearfully jealous, and such a temper!  If I married him, I’m quite sure he would beat me some day.’

‘Oh!’ Emmeline exclaimed.  ’How can you have anything to do with such a man?’

‘He’s very nice sometimes,’ answered Louise, thoughtfully.

‘But do you really mean that he is “rough and coarse"?’

’Yes, I do.  You couldn’t call him a gentleman.  I’ve never seen his people; they live somewhere a long way off; and I shouldn’t wonder if they are a horrid lot.  His last letter was quite insulting.  He said—­let me see, what was it?  Yes—­“You have neither heart nor brains, and I shall do my best not to waste another thought on you?” What do you think of that?’

’It seems very extraordinary, my dear.  How can he write to you in that way if you never gave him any encouragement?’

’Well, but I suppose I have done.  We’ve met on the Common now and then, and—­and that kind of thing.  I’m afraid you’re shocked, Mrs. Mumford.  I know it isn’t the way that nice people behave, and I’m going to give it up.’

‘Does your mother know him?’

’Oh, yes! there’s no secret about it.  Mother rather likes him.  Of course he behaves himself when he’s at the house.  I’ve a good mind to ask him to call here so that you could see him.  Yes, I should like you to sea him.  You wouldn’t mind?’

’Not if you really wish it, Louise.  But—­I can’t help thinking you exaggerate his faults.’

‘Not a bit.  He’s a regular brute when he gets angry.’

‘My dear,’ Emmeline interposed softly, ’that isn’t quite a ladylike expression.’

’No, it isn’t.  Thank you, Mrs. Mumford.  I meant to say he is horrid —­very disagreeable.  Then there’s something else I want to tell you about.  Cissy Higgins—­that’s Mr. Higgins’s daughter, you know—­is half engaged to a man called Bowling—­an awful idiot—­’

‘I don’t think I would use that word, dear.’

’Thank you, Mrs. Mumford.  I mean to say he’s a regular silly.  But he’s in a very good position—­a partner in Jannaway Brothers of Woolwich, though he isn’t thirty yet.  Well, now, what do you think?  Mr. Bowling doesn’t seem to know his own mind, and just lately he’s been paying so much attention to me that Cissy has got quite frantic about it.  This was really and truly the reason why I left home.’