“No. I fancy she will have to see whether a certain nobleman may be one.”
The Countess now joined them. Sir Franks had informed her of her brother’s last fine performance. After a short, uneasy pause, she said, glancing at Evan:—
“You know his romantic nature. I can assure you he was sincere; and even if you could not accept, at least—”
“But we have accepted, Countess,” said Rose.
“The estate!”
“The estate, Countess. And what is more, to increase the effect of his generosity, he has consented to take a recompense.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed the Countess, directing a stony look at her brother.
“May I presume to ask what recompense?”
Rose shook her head. “Such a very poor one, Countess! He has no idea of relative value.”
The Countess’s great mind was just then running hot on estates, and thousands, or she would not have played goose to them, you may be sure. She believed that Evan had been wheedled by Rose into the acceptance of a small sum of money, in return for his egregious gift.