He hurried up to dress as soon as he reached the house, with a word of apology as to being late, and then found her in the drawing room.
"Papa," she said, "I do like Mrs. Montacute Jones."
"So do I, my dear, because she is good-humoured."
"But she is so good-natured also! She has been here again to-day and wants me and George to go down to Scotland in August. I should so like it."
"What will George say?"
"Of course he won't go; and of course I shan't. But that doesn't make it the less good-natured. She wishes all her set to think that what happened the other night doesn't mean anything."
"I'm afraid he won't consent."
"I know he won't. He wouldn't know what to do with himself. He hates a house full of people. And now tell me what the Marquis said." But dinner was announced, and the Dean was not forced to answer this question immediately.
"Now, papa," she said again, as soon as the coffee was brought and the servant was gone, "do tell me what my most noble brother-in-law wanted to say to you?"
That he certainly would not tell. "Your brother-in-law, my dear, behaved about as badly as a man could behave."