"But you wouldn't. You didn't know me then."
"Perhaps you'd have been just as keen as she is to rob my boy of his name. And so George wanted to marry you! Was he very much in love?"
"I was bound to suppose so, my lord."
"And you didn't care for him!"
"I didn't say that. But I certainly did not care to set up housekeeping without a house or without the money to get one. Was I wrong?"
"I suppose a fellow ought to have money when he wants to marry. Well, my dear, there is no knowing what may come yet. Won't it be odd, if after all, you should be Marchioness of Brotherton some day? After that won't you give me a kiss before you say good-night."
"I would have done if you had been my brother-in-law,—or, perhaps, if the people were not all moving about in the next room. Good-night, Marquis."
"Good-night. Perhaps you'll regret some day that you haven't done what I asked."
"I might regret it more if I did." Then she took herself off, enquiring in her own mind whether it might still be possible that she should ever preside in the drawing-room at Manor Cross. Had he not been very much in love with her, surely he would not have talked to her like that.
"I think I'll say good-bye to you, De Baron," the Marquis said to his host, that night.