"I should have thought that was how she treated you."
"Well, it's our way of treating each other. I don't suppose she thinks of me as a kid any more than I do of her. I don't go as far as to say that she's gone on me, or anything of that sort. She's too young at present to be gone on anybody, however much she may lark and rot about it. And I haven't done anything to make her yet. I'm only asking you, supposing it took me that way, and I was serious about it, I might be the sort of fellow your Governor wouldn't mind Barbara marrying?"
"I should think he'd be half off his head with delight," said Young George. "I say, Jimmy, there's something I want to consult you about. Barbara has written to me about it, and she says I can."
"I shall be pleased to give you my advice, George. Her, too, if she wants it. How did she—er—put it—that she wanted it."
"Oh, she said: 'I don't mind your telling that little ass, Jimmy, and see what he thinks,' or something of that sort. She didn't mean anything by it."
"Oh, no. I don't mind. It's the way we treat each other. Well, what's the trouble, old man?"
Young George told him.
"Ah," said Jimmy sapiently. "I've been wondering how long it would be before you tumbled to that. It's the talk of the county."
"Do you mean that, or is it only swank because you always see everything—generally before it happens?"
"My dear chap, I can only tell you your Governor went out for a walk with her the moment after Caroline had gone away, and fixed it up then. If you don't believe me, ask him."