‘Old!’ cried Mrs Courtney. ‘Why, child, you are raving! He is not a day over forty, and a very good-looking man, although somewhat bald. But that has nothing to do with the matter. It is the position you must look at, and the honour of the thing. Fancy being Lady Russell, and at the head of all the ladies of San Diego, and then going, by-and-by, to live in England, and see all the sights of London, and the Queen, perhaps, and the Royal Family. Why, that chance alone would be worth all the rest, in my estimation!’
‘Nita! I won’t have our daughter persuaded to do anything against her inclinations.’
‘Dear me, Mr Courtney, I am not trying to persuade her! I am only showing her the proper way in which to consider Sir Russell’s proposal. Why, he’s the highest match in the island, and Quita will never get such another chance if she lives to be a hundred!’
‘That’s true enough,’ replied her husband, ‘but she shouldn’t marry the Prince of Wales himself, if she hadn’t a fancy for him, whilst I have the money to keep her.’
‘But stop, father,’ interrupted Quita, ‘there is no harm in talking it over with mother, and I like to talk of it. It’s a great compliment, isn’t it? I wonder whatever made Sir Russell think of me?’
‘Oh, my dear girl, don’t talk such nonsense!’ exclaimed Mrs Courtney. ‘You must know how pretty you are, even if nobody’s told you so, and that there’s not another woman in San Diego can compare with you. Sir Russell has got a pair of eyes in his head like other men, and he sees you will make the handsomest Governor’s lady in the West Indies. And so you will, though it’s your mother says it.’
Maraquita was evidently much impressed by the news which had been told her. She lay quiescent on her sofa, but her large eyes were gazing into space, and a faint rose flush had mounted to her face.
‘Do you think he is sure to take me to England?’ she inquired, after a pause.
‘Why, naturally, my love, when his three years’ term is over here. And he tells me he has a lovely place in the country there, and he’s a Member of Parliament into the bargain, and knows all the grandest people in London. Why, you would live like a queen, and be the luckiest woman in the world.’
‘And we should have to part with her,’ said Mr Courtney, with a sigh.