“But I do not exactly see how your view would work practically,” said Bertram.
“Well my view is a social problem,” said Hugo, “and social problems are the fashion at present. It would be solved through the exceptions, which prove the principle. In the first place, there are your swells who cannot avoid the halter—you are booked when you are born; and then there are moderate men like myself, who have their weak moments. I would not answer for myself if I could find an affectionate family with good shooting and first-rate claret.”
“There must be many families with such conditions,” said Lothair.
Hugo shook his head. “You try. Sometimes the wine is good and the shooting bad; sometimes the reverse; sometimes both are excellent, but then the tempers and the manners are equally bad.”
“I vote we three do something to-morrow,” said Bertram.
“What shall it be?” said Hugo.
“I vote we row down to Richmond at sunset and dine, and then drive our teams up by moonlight. What say you, Lothair?”
“I cannot, I am engaged. I am engaged to go to the opera.”
“Fancy going to the opera in this sweltering weather!” exclaimed Bertram.
“He must be going to be married,” said Hugo.