.
The one thing he did not do was to deliver these speeches. They were
wonderful things of his imagination, which seemed to defy
crystallization into words. So it was with the speech of
congratulation that he had prepared for Patricia.

That morning Patricia was distraite. Her thoughts continued to wander
to _The Morning Post_ announcement, and she was anxious to get out to
lunch in order to purchase a copy and see what was actually said. Then
her thoughts ran on to who was responsible for such an outrage; for
Patricia regarded it as an outrage. It was obviously Bowen who had
done it in order to make her position still more ridiculous. It was
mean, she was not sure that it was not contemptible.

Patricia was in the act of transcribing some particulars about infant
mortality in England and Wales compared with that of Scotland, when the
parlourmaid entered with a note. Mr. Bonsor stretched out his hand for
it.

"It is for Miss Brent, sir," said the maid.

Patricia looked up in surprise. It was unusual for her to receive a
note at the Bonsors'. She opened the envelope mechanically and read:--

"DEAREST,

"I have just seen _The Morning Post_. It is sweet of you to relent.
You have made me very happy. Will you dine with me to-night and when
may I take you to Grosvenor Square? My mother will want to see her new
daughter-in-law.

"I so enjoyed last night. Surely the gods are on my side.

"PETER."

Patricia read and re-read the note. For a moment she felt ridiculously
happy, then, with a swift change of mood she saw the humiliation of her
situation. Bowen thought it was she who had inserted the notice of the
engagement. What must he think of her? It looked as if she had done
it to burn his boats behind him. Then suddenly she seized a pen and
wrote:--

"DEAR LORD PETER,

"I know nothing whatever about the announcement in _The Morning Post_,
and I only heard of it when I arrived here. I cannot dine with you
to-night, and I am very angry and upset that anyone should have had the
impertinence to interfere in my affairs. I shall take up the matter
with _The Morning Post_ people and insist on a contradiction
immediately.

"Yours sincerely,
"PATRICIA BRENT."

With quick, decisive movements Patricia folded the note, addressed the
envelope and handed it to the maid, then she turned to Mr. Bonsor.

"I am sorry to interrupt work, Mr. Bonsor; but that was rather an
important note that I ha