Foolish old darling!  What did he mean by making such an ass of himself?  This was worse even than the kiss, as being more troublesome and less easily pushed on one side and forgotten.  It may serve to explain the condition of Lady Carbury’s mind at the time if it be stated that she did not even at this moment suppose that the editor of the ‘Morning Breakfast Table’ intended to make her an offer of marriage.  She knew, or thought she knew, that middle-aged men are fond of prating about love, and getting up sensational scenes.  The falseness of the thing, and the injury which may come of it, did not shock her at all.  Had she known that the editor professed to be in love with some lady in the next street, she would have been...