"Mother," said the young man—and he blushed like a girl—"tell me plainly: how much truth is there in what you are always suggesting, that Lady Kitty's affections are involved where I am concerned?"
"What do you mean, Anthony? It is a question you should ask Kitty yourself. You are not afraid of the answer, surely?"
"I hope she cares nothing for me."
"You hope!" cried Lady Jane incredulously.
"Yes," said her son doggedly. "It is a disgustingly foppish thing for a man to have to say; but I hope it——"
"Are you mad, Anthony?"
"Not that I know, mother. You have always suggested a marriage between us, and have behaved as if there were some such understanding, but it has been entirely your doing. I was a young idiot not to have put my foot on it long ago, but worse than that I have not been."
"You will not dare to play with Kitty."
His mother had stood up and faced him, and her eyes blazed at him.
"I play with no lady," said her son, meeting her glance steadily. "I have fetched and carried for Kitty, because she was always here, and a woman—and young and pretty perhaps; I have never said a word of love to her."