“Papa has already been spoken to about it; and it is by his own desire we are both to see him this evening.”
“Am I the only one here who knew nothing of all this?”
“You should have been told formally this morning, Augustus. Lord Culduff only waited for a telegram from Mr. Cutbill, to announce to you his intentions and his—hopes.” A slight hesitation delayed the word.
“These things I can't help,” said he, bitterly, and as if speaking to himself. “They have been done without my knowledge, and regardless of me in every way; but I do protest—strongly protest—against Lord Culduff being introduced into matters which are purely our own.”
“I never knew till now that we had family secrets,” said she, with an insolent air.
“You may learn it later on, perhaps, and without pleasure.”
“So, then, these are the grave perils you tried to terrify me with a while ago. You forget, Augustus, that I have secured my passage in another ship. Personally, at least, I am in no danger.”
“I did forget that. I did indeed forget how completely you could disassociate yourself from the troubles of your family.”
“But what is going to happen to us? They can't shoot Jack because he called his commanding officer an ugly name. They can't indite papa because he refused to be high-sheriff. And if the world is angry with you, Gusty, it is not certainly because you like the company of men of higher station than your own.”
He flushed at the sarcasm that her speech half revealed, and turned away to hide his irritation.