The General murmured in confusion, 'Dear me!' and looked at the young man, thinking that he could not have known the time.
'Is all arranged, my dear General?'
'Nothing is arranged, and I beg—I say I beg . . . I came out for fresh air and pace.'..
The General rode frantically.
In spite of the fresh air, he was unable to eat at breakfast. He was bound, of course, to present himself to Lady Camper, in common civility, immediately after it.
And first, what were the phrases he had to avoid uttering in her presence? He could remember only the 'gentlemanly residence.' And it was a gentlemanly residence, he thought as he took leave of it. It was one, neatly named to fit the place. Lady Camper is indeed a most eccentric person! he decided from his experience of her.
He was rather astonished that young Rolles should have spoken so coolly of his aunt's leaning to matrimony; but perhaps her exact age was unknown to the younger members of her family.
This idea refreshed him by suggesting the extremely honourable nature of
Lady Camper's uncomfortable confession.
He himself had an uncomfortable confession to make. He would have to speak of his income. He was living up to the edges of it.
She is an upright woman, and I must be the same! he said, fortunately not in her hearing.