“I don't believe it, madam.”
“That is polite, sir. Come, Mr. Fountain, you are agitated and cross, and it is no use being cross either with me or with Lucy. You asked my co-operation. You gentlemen can ask anything; and you are wise to do these droll things; that is where you gain the advantage over us poor cowards of women. Well, I will co-operate with you. Now listen. Lucy's penchant is neither for Mr. Hardie, nor Mr. Talboys, but for Mr. Dodd.”
“You don't mean it?”
“Oh, she does not care much for him; she has refused him to my knowledge, and would again; besides, he is gone to India, so there is an end of him. She seems a little languid and out of spirits; it may be because he is gone. Now, then, is the very time to press a marriage upon her.”
“The very worst time, surely, if she is really such an idiot as to be fretting for a fellow who is away.”
Mrs. Bazalgette informed her new ally condescendingly that he knew nothing of the sex he had undertaken to tackle.
“When a cold-blooded girl like this, who has no strong attachment, is out of spirits, and all that sort of thing, then is the time she falls to any resolute wooer. She will yield if we both insist, and we will insist. Only keep your temper, and let nothing tempt you to say an unkind word to her.”
She then rang the bell, and desired that Miss Fountain might be requested to come into the drawing-room for a minute.
“But what are you going to do?”
“Give her the choice of two husbands—Mr. Talboys or Mr. Hardie.”