“My dear child!” The loving mother rushed to fold her daughter in a close embrace, to which Victoria submitted with silent scorn. “This is sudden, but I cannot say it takes me altogether by surprise. A mother’s eye sees so much,” added the marchioness, plaintively, implying that she had long watched over her child’s secret love and seen it grow from day to day.
Despencer stood viewing the touching scene with an ironical smile. “She will overdo this if she isn’t careful,” was his unspoken comment.
The marchioness turned to her new son.
“I give her to you, John, because I know you will make her happy. If I had had the choice of a son-in-law, there is no one I should have preferred to you.”
As a bald matter of fact, there had been a slight element of choice about it.
Hammond bowed with due gratitude.
“Let me offer my congratulations, too, if I may,” Despencer put in. “This sort of thing quite touches me.”
“Thank you,” said Hammond, curtly. “I hope to have the pleasure of speaking to the marquis in the morning,” he added to the marquis’s wife.
“I will prepare him for it. I am sure you will find him ready to welcome you as a son,” responded the marchioness, with enthusiasm.
Victoria rose from her seat.