“You know my very high opinion of you,” she said.
Mr. Povey pursued in a mollified tone. “Assuming that Constance is willing to be engaged, do I understand you consent?”
“But Constance is too young.”
“Constance is twenty. She is more than twenty.”
“In any case you won’t expect me to give you an answer now.”
“Why not? You know my position.”
She did. From a practical point of view the match would be ideal: no fault could be found with it on that side. But Mrs. Baines could not extinguish the idea that it would be a ‘come-down’ for her daughter. Who, after all, was Mr. Povey? Mr. Povey was nobody.
“I must think things over,” she said firmly, putting her lips together. “I can’t reply like this. It is a serious matter.”
“When can I have your answer? To-morrow?”
“No—really—”