"It's the only word I can think of which describes him. But perhaps I am wrong. Frances would think so."
"I always thought that Miss Hest did not like Maunders.
"It may be so," said Hest indifferently. "Still, he is handsome, and Frances is a woman. It seems to me, however, that the word rests with Miss Dimsdale. If she loves Colonel Towton she will marry him, if Maunders, he will win her. A wilful woman will have her way."
"I do not think that Miss Dimsdale is wilful," said Vernon stiffly, then with an afterthought that Hest might help the Colonel to thwart the plans which Frances certainly appeared to entertain, he added, "Would you like to meet Towton?"
"Oh, yes. I shall be in town for a week before going to Paris. I have few friends here and like to be amused."
"Where are you staying?"
"At Professor Garrick Gail's, Isleworth."
"Oh!" Vernon could scarcely conceal his surprise. "I thought that you did not approve of your sister appearing as a reciter?"
"Nor do I," rejoined the other man with a frown, "but Frances asked me to deliver a message to Professor Gail, whom I met before and whom I like. He asked me to accept his hospitality while in London, so I did so, as I hope to induce him to get Frances to abandon this scheme of earning money by her talents--which by the way I don't deny--so that she may resume her proper place in society as my sister."
Vernon shook his head. "Miss Hest is of too active a mind to bear tamely the life of an ordinary country lady."