At dinner Lady Mabel sat next to his father, and he could watch the special courtesy with which the Duke treated the girl whom he was so desirous of introducing to his house. Silverbridge could not talk about the election at Polpenno because all conversation about Tregear was interdicted in the presence of his sister. He could say nothing as to the Runnymede hunt and the two thunderbolts which had fallen on him, as Major Tifto was not a subject on which he could expatiate in the presence of his father. He asked a few questions about the shooting, and referred with great regret to his absence from the Brake country.
"I am sure Mr. Cassewary could spare you for another fortnight," the Duke said to his neighbour, alluding to a visit which she now intended to make.
"If so he would have to spare me altogether," said Mabel, "for I must meet my father in London in the middle of January."
"Could you not put it off to another year?"
"You would think I had taken root and was growing at Matching."
"Of all our products you would be the most delightful, and the most charming,—and we would hope the most permanent," said the courteous Duke.
"After being here so long I need hardly say that I like Matching better than any place in the world. I suppose it is the contrast to Grex."
"Grex was a palace," said the Duke, "before a wall of this house had been built."
"Grex is very old, and very wild,—and very uncomfortable. But I love it dearly. Matching is the very reverse of Grex."
"Not I hope in your affections."