He rose and began, as usual, to pace up and down the room. He knew that what he had just said bore very little resemblance to what he felt, for Mary's presence acted upon him like a very strong magnet, drawing from him certain expressions which were not those he made use of when he spoke to himself, nor did they represent his deepest feelings. He felt a little contempt for himself at having spoken thus; but somehow he had been forced into speech.
"Do sit down," said Mary suddenly. "You make me so—" She spoke with unusual irritability, and Ralph, noticing it with surprise, sat down at once.
"You haven't told me her name—you'd rather not, I suppose?"
"Her name? Katharine Hilbery."
"But she's engaged—"
"To Rodney. They're to be married in September."
"I see," said Mary. But in truth the
