'Oh, no; there's money,' remarked Sir Franks.
'Money is there?' quoth Hamilton, respectfully.
'And there's wit,' added Sir John, 'if he has half his sister's talent.'
'Astonishing woman!' Hamilton chimed in; adding, with a shrug,
'But, egad!'
'Well, we don't want him to resemble his sister,' said Lady Jocelyn.
'I acknowledge she's amusing.'
'Amusing, Emily!' Mrs. Shorne never encountered her sister-in-law's calmness without indignation. 'I could not rest in the house with such a person, knowing her what she is. A vile adventuress, as I firmly believe. What does she do all day with your mother? Depend upon it, you will repent her visit in more ways than one.'
'A prophecy?' asked Lady Jocelyn, smiling.
On the grounds of common sense, on the grounds of propriety, and consideration of what was due to themselves, all agreed to condemn the notion of Rose casting herself away on Evan. Lady Jocelyn agreed with Mrs. Shorne; Sir Franks with his brother, and Sir John. But as to what they were to do, they were divided. Lady Jocelyn said she should not prevent Rose from writing to Evan, if she had the wish to do so.
'Folly must come out,' said her ladyship. 'It's a combustible material. I won't have her health injured. She shall go into the world more. She will be presented at Court, and if it's necessary to give her a dose or two to counteract her vanity, I don't object. This will wear off, or, 'si c'est veritablement une grande passion, eh bien' we must take what Providence sends us.'
'And which we might have prevented if we had condescended to listen to the plainest worldly wisdom,' added Mrs. Shorne.