"You wouldn't be much of an Ancram if you liked it; I can tell you I know that much! Well, and how long do you mean to stay in town?"
"That is quite uncertain."
"You must come and see me again before you go, and be introduced to Lord Seely."
"Oh, indeed, I hope so."
Come and see her again before he went! What would his mother say, what would his Whitford friends say, if they could hear that speech? Nevertheless, he answered very cheerfully:
"Oh, indeed, I hope so!" And interpreting my lady's words as a dismissal, rose to go.
"You're really uncommonly nice-looking," said Lady Seely, observing his straight, slight figure, and his neatly-shod feet as he stood before her. "Oh, you needn't look shame-faced about it. It's no merit of yours; but it's a great thing, let me tell you, for a young fellow without a penny to have an agreeable appearance. How old are you?"
"Twenty," said Algernon, anticipating his birthday by two months.
"Do you know, I think Fido will like you!" said my lady, who observed the fact that her favourite had neither barked nor growled when Algernon rose from his chair. "I'm sure I hope he will; he is so unpleasant when he takes a dislike to people."
Algernon thought so too; but he merely said, "Oh, we shall be great friends, I daresay; I always get on with dogs."