After that, Lady Glencora felt no further inclination to show Burgo's letter to Alice on that occasion. They sat over the drawing-room fire, talking chiefly of Alice's affairs, till it was time for them to dress. But Alice, though she spoke much of Mr. Grey, said no word as to her engagement with George Vavasor. How could she speak of it, inasmuch as she had already resolved,--already almost resolved,--that that engagement also should be broken?
Alice, when she came down to the drawing-room, before dinner, found Mr. Bott there alone. She had dressed more quickly than her friend, and Mr. Palliser had not yet made his appearance.
"I did not expect the pleasure of meeting Miss Vavasor to-day," he said, as he came up, offering his hand. She gave him her hand, and then sat down, merely muttering some word of reply.
"We spent a very pleasant month down at Matching together;--didn't you think so?"
"I spent a pleasant month there certainly."

After that, Lady Glencora felt no further inclination to show Burgo's letter to Alice. They sat over the drawing-room fire, talking chiefly of Alice's affairs, till it was time for them to dress. But Alice said no word about her engagement with George Vavasor. How could she speak of it, seeing that she had already almost resolved that the engagement should be broken?
When Alice came down to the drawing-room before dinner, she found Mr. Bott there alone.
"I did not expect the pleasure of meeting Miss Vavasor today," he said, offering his hand. She gave him hers, and then sat down, muttering some word of reply.
"We spent a very pleasant month at Matching together; didn't you think so?"
"I spent a pleasant month there certainly."
