"Oh, Ruprecht will wait a year for me—won't you, Ruprecht? But the engagement must be proclaimed at once—we insist on that. And now you may kiss Mother, Ruprecht, and tell her that you already look on yourself as her son."
The Count stooped to give his prospective Mother-in-law an amateurish embrace, while Ruby fled, fearing that her own turn would come next. "Good Lord, Edna!" said Clarence, drawing her aside, "have you gone dotty or what? To go and chuck a real good sort like Mirliflor, and then take this overgrown bounder—it beats me what you can see in the beggar!"
"I see a man, Clarence, whom I feel I can really look up to."
"You'll have the devil of a way to look up, if he goes on growing much longer. He's shot up lately like a bally beanstalk!"
"You are jealous because he makes you feel so small. I glory in his being so big. He is just my idea of a superman!"
"Strike out 'man' and substitute 'swine'!" said Clarence, "and I'm with you!"
"There's no need to descend to vulgarity, Clarence. And it seems a pity you should be so prejudiced against him when he is only anxious to prove the affection he feels for you!"
"Oh, is he? Well, if he comes pawing me about, he'll find out what my sentiments are!"
"I should advise you to be civil to him—for your own sake," said Edna coldly, "because he's rather a powerful person."
Queen Selina had no option but to inform the Court of the engagement without delay, and the general consternation it caused could only find expression in chilling silence.