"Nonsense. Now, you have some right to flatter yourself on that score."
"Miss Skeat?" said Mr. Barker. "Sit still, my heart!"
They drove along in silence for some time. At last Mr. Barker began again,—
"Well, Professor, what are you going to do about it?"
"About what?"
"Why, about the conquest. Shall you go there again?"
"Very likely." Claudius was annoyed at his companion's tone of voice. He would have scoffed at the idea that he loved the Countess at first sight; but she nevertheless represented his ideal to him, and he could not bear to hear Mr. Barker's chaffing remarks. Of course Barker had taken him to the house, and had a right to ask if Claudius had found the visit interesting. But Claudius was determined to check any kind of levity from the first. He did not like it about women on any terms, but in connection with the Countess Margaret it was positively unbearable. So he answered curtly enough to show Mr. Barker he objected to it. The latter readily understood and drew his own inferences.
A different conversation ensued in the Countess's garden when the visitors were gone.
"Well, Miss Skeat," said Margaret, "what do you think of my new acquaintances?"
"I think Mr. Barker is the most agreeable American I ever met," said Miss Skeat. "He has very sound views about social questions, and his information on the subject of American Indians is perfectly extraordinary."