The old lady looked up keenly, but his manner was very careless.
"Why not Georgiana?" she inquired. "Eldest first."
"I don't think she could be spared just now," said the Vicar, hiding his alarm, "and—and I'd like the place to be tidy before she came."
So Mrs. Cockburn wrote and invited Dolly.
The answer came very quickly: Dolly could not leave home just now.
While his mother was reading out the many sufficient reasons, Freddy stared hopelessly across at the fatal letter. His face expressed utter dejection until about halfway through. At the last clause it lighted up with an inspiration. He leaned over the table.
"Then, mother, of course, you'll ask Georgiana?"
His mother glanced at him oddly.
"Do you want her?"
"Want her?" cried the Vicar. "Rather!"