“But——” I said, encouraging him to go on.
“Did you hear,” he said, anxiously, “that she intends to take part in the episcopal election? A rumour to that effect has reached me.”
“I have it on the best authority that she does.”
“Tut, tut,” said the Archdeacon. “Do you tell me so? Tut, tut. But that is quite impossible and most undesirable, for her own sake most undesirable.”
“We’re all relying on you to prevent scandal.”
“Your uncle, Lord Thormanby——”
“He’ll put her in her place. He’s promised to do so. And that will be all right as far as it goes. But the question is will she stay there. That’s where you come in, Archdeacon. Once she’s in her place it will be your business, as Archdeacon, to keep her there.”
“I’ll speak to her father about it,” said the Archdeacon. “Beresford must put his foot down.”
“He’s going to Brazil. He told me so.”
“We can’t have that. He must stay here. It’s perfectly impossible for him to leave the country at present. I’ll see him this evening.”