“I don’t much congratulate myself,” said the colonel.
“Here’s a letter from Mrs. Beauchamp informing me that her boy Blackburn will be home in a month. There would have been plenty of time for him. However, we must make up our minds to it. Those two’ll be meeting on Wednesday, so keep your secret. It will be out tomorrow week.”
“But Nevil will be accusing Mr. Austin.”
“Austin won’t be at Lespel’s. And he must bear it, for the sake of peace.”
“Is Nevil ruined with his uncle, papa?”
“Not a bit, I should imagine. It’s Romfrey’s fun.”
“And this disgraceful squib is a part of the fun?”
“That I know nothing about, my dear. I’m sorry, but there’s pitch and tar in politics as well as on shipboard.”
“I do not see that there should be,” said Cecilia resolutely.
“We can’t hope to have what should be.”