XVI
The New Life
"You haven't mentioned it to the young man himself?" asked Lady Evenswood.
"Certainly not. I've only seen him once, and then he didn't talk of his own affairs. He takes the thing very well. He's lost his position and he's the hero of the newspapers, and he bears both afflictions quite coolly. A lad of good balance, I think."
"Is he agreeable?"
"Hum, I'm not sure of that. No excess of modesty, I fancy."
"I suppose you mean he's not shy? All young men are conceited. I think I should like you to bring him to see me."
For forty years such an intimation from Lady Evenswood had enjoyed the rank of a command; Lord Southend received it with proper obedience.
"The solution I spoke of has occurred to some of us," he went on. "He's poor now, but with that he could make a marriage. The case is very exceptional——"
"So is what you propose, George."