“And who’s the other?” asked Malone, curiously.
“The other? The other is not yet formally declared, but you will be fully satisfied with him, that much I guarantee.”
Malone did not give much attention to this speech, his whole interest seeming now to concentrate in the person of him who was to be the girl’s guardian.
“Is your honour married?” asked he at length of Sir Within.
“I have not that happiness,” said the old diplomatist, with a grace of manner that he might have displayed to a sovereign.
“There it is again,” sighed Malone; “she’ll have nowhere to go to if she’s turned out. Has his honour a house near this?”
“Yes. I shall be happy to show it to you,” said Sir Within, politely.
“I declare, Malone, if I’m ever in want of a guardian, I’ll look you up. I never heard of your equal in foresight,” said Georgina, laughing.
“Wouldn’t I need to be, my Lady? Who has the child to look to barrin’ myself? And maybe, then, she wouldn’t have even me. I’m seventy-eight last April; and his honour there isn’t very young either.”
“Trop vrai, ma foi,” said Sir Within, trying to laugh gaily, but reddening to his forehead as he turned away.