“To be sure I did,” she said quietly. “Why not? I said to myself, ‘I am careless of the opinion of the world, and shall do as I please;’ and I pictured out my home with you, a distingué man, at the head.”
“You did?” he said excitedly.
“Of course I did. And then I pictured it as it is, with Lady Littletown, a power in her way, a well-known character in society, whose word has its influence, and one who can sway the destinies of many, in many ways, in the world.”
“No; say in one,” he exclaimed rather bitterly—“in the matrimonial world.”
“As you will, cher Arthur,” replied her ladyship. “You see, I am frank with you. I weighed it all carefully, as I said, and weighed it once again, to be sure that I was making no mistake, and the result was dead against change.”
“Highly complimentary to me!”
“A very excellent thing for you, my dear boy; for you would have led a wretched life.”
“Assuming that your ladyship’s charms had conquered my youthful, ardent heart?” he said.
“Silly boy! you are trying to be sarcastic,” said Lady Littletown. “Pish! I am too thick-skinned to mind it in the least. Be reasonable and listen, dear brother-in-arms.”
“Why not lover-in-arms?” he cried quickly—“in those arms.”