Explore "What Was Expected of Miss Constantine" by Antonio Hope on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
After dinner I used the freedom of old acquaintance to ask Lady Lexington precisely what she meant by saying that it -- the alliance between Miss Constantine and Valentine Hare -- was "all but settled." We chanced to be alone in the small drawing-room; through the curtained archway we could see the rest of the company formed into groups. Val was again by Miss Constantine's side; Kirby was now standing facing them, and apparently doing most of the talking.
"He hasn't asked her in so many words yet," said Lady Lexington; "but he will soon, of course. It's been practically settled ever since she came to stay here -- after her father's death, you know. And it's an ideal arrangement."