"No, love," cheering her with a smile; "nothing that fathers and mothers in general would consider as such. He has asked me for our Maud."
"What for?" was the mother's first exceedingly simple question—and then she guessed its answer. "Impossible! Ridiculous—absolutely ridiculous! She is only a child."
"Nevertheless, Lord Ravenel wishes to marry our little Maud!"
"Lord Ravenel wishes to marry our Maud!"
Mrs. Halifax repeated this to herself more than once before she was able to entertain it as a reality. When she did, the first impression it made upon her mind was altogether pain.
"Oh, John! I hoped we had done with these sort of things; I thought we should have been left in peace with the rest of our children."
John smiled again; for, indeed, there was a comical side to her view of the subject; but its serious phase soon returned; doubly so, when, looking up, they both saw Lord Ravenel standing before them. Firm his attitude was, firmer than usual; and it was with something of his father's stately air, mingled with a more chivalric and sincerer grace, that he stooped forward and kissed the hand of Maud's mother.
"Mr. Halifax has told you all, I believe?"
"He has."
"May I then, with entire trust in you both, await my answer?"