What was to be done, Lord Fotheringay inquired. What was to be done in order to make Harold act in accordance with the dictates not merely of prudence but of necessity as well?
Mr. Airey could not see that any positive action could be taken in order to compel Harold to adopt the course which every sensible person would admit was the right course—in fact the only course open to him under the circumstances. He added that only two days ago Harold had admitted that he meant to ask Miss Craven to marry him.
“Heavens above!” cried Lord Fotheringay. “He never admitted so much to me. Then what has occurred to change him within a few days?”
“In such a case as this it is as well not to ask what but who,” remarked Edmund.
Lord Fotheringay looked at him eagerly. “Who—who—you don’t mean another girl?”
“Why should I not mean another girl?” said Edmund. “You may have some elementary acquaintance with woman, Lord Fotheringay.”
“I have—yes, elementary,” admitted Lord Fotheringay.
“Then surely you must have perceived that a man’s attention is turned away from one woman only by the appearance of another woman,” said Edmund.
“You mean that—by heavens, that notion occurred to me the moment that I saw her. She is a lovely creature, Airey.”
“‘A gray eye or so!’ said Airey.”