'Oh, that was only to Monks Horton! It would have been simply tantalising.'
'Lady Kirkaldy is an excellent person,' said Miss Nugent.
'Is she at home now?' asked Ursula.
'Coming next week, they tell me,' said Gerard.
'He—your cousin—will always be loafing up there now, giving up all that he had undertaken, I suppose.'
'Not very likely,' said Mary quietly.
It is a mere Scottish anti-church influence,' said Gerard, turning round at the swing-door of his office. 'Why else will Egremont not take the pledge?'
Wherewith he disappeared, blue ribbon and all, while Mary smiled, though she was vexed; and Nuttie observed, 'Poor Gerard; but I can't see why he should be jealous of Mark now.'
Mary did not choose to understand what Nuttie implied in her simplicity, and made answer, 'He is rather blue ribbon mad. Besides, I am afraid the fact of being a "swell" does not conduce to your cousin's popularity among the clerks.'
'Surely he does not give himself airs,' said Ursula, her family feelings awaking.