"Please to explain, Mr. Grigson," said John, still more stiffly.
"Yes, I will, as you ask me in such a pleasant tone. The truth is, Mark Wilson is extremely desirous of knowing the extent of your means, and the nature of your prospects, in case, for instance, of your having a wife to support."
"You—you don't say so," exclaimed John, starting in his chair, and clutching the edge of the table in sheer astonishment. "I never heard of such impertinence in all my life," he added, vehemently.
"Ah! Well, if you come to that, I have heard worse jokes, at all events," cried Tom, highly delighted with his friend's emotion. "Especially since the cream of it is in the application," he added.
"I don't know about the joke," the elder brother went on, still gravely. "But I am inclined to hope, from your way about it, that there isn't much danger—" this to Tincroft—"I should be sorry to think there really is any. If you will take your seat again, dear fellow—" for Tincroft had continued standing, holding on to the table's edge—"I'll explain, as you have asked me to do."
John resumed his seat, and then Richard Grigson went on to say that Mark Wilson had plainly intimated that, seeing which way the wind blew, as he elegantly expressed himself, he didn't see but what he might be proud to have the college gentleman for a son-in-law, only it was a father's duty to put a few questions at starting, so us to save future troubles and disputes, because such things in families were unpleasant, as he very well knew.
"I let him go on," said Mr. Grigson, in continuation, "for I thought to myself Tincroft ought to be aware of what is thought and said and speculated about him."
"Much obliged, I am sure, sir," gasped John, breaking out into a cold perspiration.
"And then when he had said all he had got to say, and put as many questions about you as would go into a high-crowned hat, I told him he must be entirely mistaken in his conjectures, simply because you are not a marrying man. Wasn't I right there, friend?"
"Right, sir; quite right, Mr. Grigson," said John. "To think of me marrying!" added he, as though the idea was perfectly preposterous, as, under the circumstances, no doubt it was.