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't know whether to be grateful or not for that," remarked Drake. "Are we all so conceited?" "Well, I think you are all pretty well satisfied with yourselves," she replied. "I never knew any nation so firmly convinced that it was the pick of creation; and I expect before I am here very long I shall become as fully convinced as you are that the world was made by special contract for the use and amusement of the English. Mind, I won't say that it could have been made for a better people." "That's rather severe," said Drake. "But don't you forget that you were English yourself a few years ago; that, in a sense, you are English still." "That's very nicely said," she remarked; "more especially as I didn't quite deserve it. I was wanting to see whether I could make you angry." Drake stared at her with astonishment. "Why on earth should you want to make me angry?" he asked. "Well, I've heard a great deal about you," she replied. "And all the people who talked about you told me that you were rather hot-tempered. Lady Northgate, for instance, assured me you could be a perfect bear when you liked." Drake smiled. "That was extremely kind of Lady Northgate." "Well, so long as it wasn't true. I've heard so much about you that I was quite anxious to see you. I am speaking to Lord Drake Selbie, am I not?" "That's my name," said Drake. "The nephew of Angleford?" Drake nodded. She looked up at him as if waiting to see how he took the mention of his uncle's name; but Drake's face could be as impassive as a stone wall when he liked. "You know my uncle?" he asked, in a tone of polite interest. "Yes," she said; "very well. I met him when he was in America. His wife is a great friend of mine. You know her, of course?" "I'm sorry to say I have not had that pleasure," said Drake. "I was absent from England when the present Lady Angleford came over, after her marriage." "Oh, yes," said the lady. "I suppose I ought not to have mentioned her?" "Good heavens! Why not?" asked Drake. "Well, of course," she drawled slowly, but musically, "I know that Lord Angleford's marriage was a bad thing for you. It wouldn't be my fault if I didn't, seeing that everybody in London has been talking about it." "Well, it's not a particularly good thing for me," Drake admitted; "but it's no reason why I should dislike any reference to my uncle or his wife." "You don't bear her any ill will?" she asked. This was extre
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