‘Indeed! And Miss Rupert is someone who has the honour of his preference?’
‘He says she is about thirty, and rather masculine, but a great heiress. Jasper is shameful!’
‘What do you expect? I consider it is your duty to let Marian know everything he says. Otherwise you help to deceive her. He has no sense of honour in such things.’
Dora was so impatient to let her brother have the news that she left the house as soon as she had had tea on the chance of finding Jasper at home. She had not gone a dozen yards before she encountered him in person.
‘I was afraid Marian might still be with you,’ he said, laughing. ‘I should have asked the landlady. Well?’
‘We can’t stand talking here. You had better come in.’
He was in too much excitement to wait.
‘Just tell me. What has she?’
Dora walked quickly towards the house, looking annoyed.
‘Nothing at all? Then what has her father?’