"But he is very nice, Uncle Peter."
"I have no doubt of it," said Sir Peter. "His father is one of the
finest men I have ever known; his mother was a Churchill. Is Mark to
read for the Bar?"
"Y-e-es," said Phyllis doubtfully. "I hope so. Oh! Uncle Peter, last
night, in the hall----"
"In the hall, eh?" interrupted Sir Peter.
"Yes, dear, in the hall. He--he proposed to me. I told him I had never
thought of him in that way at all. And----"
"I should hope not," said Sir Peter. He liked Mark well enough, but
there was plenty of time. And he made a mental memorandum to keep his
eye on the hall thereafter.
"And, oh! Uncle Peter, he said the light had gone out of his life, and
that he could never get over such a crushing blow, and that he wished he
was--Uncle Peter, they--they always do get over it, don't they?"
"In no time at all," replied Sir Peter briskly, and helped himself to
toast. There was a pause.
"Still, I doubt if Mr. Holroyd will get over it as quickly as that,"
said Phyllis thoughtfully.
"Haberdashers are a very present help in time of trouble," Sir Peter
assured her. "They are a great comfort to young men in Mark's
situation."