“A natural sort of self-delusion in its way,” said Grenfell, carelessly. “He’d be wrong to marry, though.”
“I believe you; and very hard on me, too.”
“How do you mean on you?”
“Because the estate comes to me; but he can charge it with a settlement if he marries; that’s what I call hard. Don’t you?”
Grenfell had no time to resolve the question, for Sir Within had already come over to propose a rubber at whist, a party to which, as an old member of Graham’s, his appetite was not whetted as young Ladarelle whispered, “I wish you joy of your whist; old Wardle revokes, and my father never pays if he loses!”
“Come over and dine with me to-morrow,” said Grenfell; “it will not be more dreary than this.”
CHAPTER XXXVI. A NEW FRIENDSHIP
“What a snug place you have here; it’s as pretty as paint, too,” said Mr. Adolphus Ladarelle, as he lounged into the Cottage, a few minutes after the time named for dinner.
“It is not mine; I am only here on sufferance. It belongs to Sir Gervais Vyner,” said Grenfell.