To suppose that any sane young woman would seriously refuse him, Dudley Deverell, never dawned on his mind. He decided to postpone the question.
“I say, here is your father coming over with that fellow Doran,” he announced. “I hear his brother has married a dairy-maid, who turned his mother out of doors.”
“I’m sure she could not manage that,—from what I knew of her.”
“Do you mean that you knew Mrs. Doran?” he asked, with quickened interest.
“Yes, I was reared on the land.”
“I declare, one would suppose you were talking of a lamb.”
“I am a lamb—sometimes. I sold her eggs.”
“Ah, now I begin to see light,” exclaimed Dudley—“to see—many things.”
“To see further than your nose?”
“Yes”—rising to his feet—“I have it! Lady Mulgrave gave me a hint, but I laughed at her. Is this Doran the son who did not present you with the locket and chain?”