"Indeed! I am not interested in Mr. Graydon's family affairs. I know he married beneath him."
"Mother, why do you detest Graydon so much?"
At the point-blank question a dark flush rose to Lady Jane's cheek.
"I am not aware that I detest him. You are like your father, always making absurd friendships, and jumping to absurd conclusions."
"I am glad to be like my father."
She said nothing, and he went on, "Yes, of course, I must go to uncle at once. If I go to Liverpool to-morrow night, I should get a boat on Thursday. Yet I did not want to go now."
His mother glanced over her shoulder at him. There was an expectancy in her face which brightened and softened it.
"No, surely. Why, you haven't yet even seen Kitty. She will be vexed that she was out."
"I wasn't thinking of Lady Kitty."
"Oh!" and her face stiffened again. "I don't profess to understand the young men of the present generation."