Kitty did not doubt it either. Regarding her hostess with a fascinated eye, she faltered: “I beg your pardon, but—but— do you love Dolph?”
The question in no way discomposed Miss Plymstock. She replied camly: “I collect that you mean to ask me if I have fallen in love with him. Well, I have not, and I don’t suppose anyone could. I like him very well, and I shall like to be the Countess of Dolphinton, and to be a married lady. My brother don’t favour him, and he don’t wish me to marry him, but I don’t heed him. I’m not pretty, like you, and I have no fortune. It isn’t likely I shall receive another offer.” She met Kitty’s eyes squarely, and said in her forthright way: “I’m not his equal in station, and I don’t pretend I am; but you might say he wasn’t fit to marry anyone. I promise you this: I mean to take good care of him, and to make him happy, poor Foster!”
Kitty stared at her, her brain working swiftly. Secluded though her life had been, she was well aware that there was perhaps no one amongst Dolphinton’s relations who would not be shocked by such an alliance as this. Even Freddy, good-natured though he was, would frown upon it, she thought, recalling his disparaging remarks about the late Mr. Yalding. In the eyes of society, Dolphinton’s peculiarities were outweighed by his birth; the enjoyment of a substantial fortune was the only thing that could render Miss Plymstock eligible, and she had no fortune at all. But Kitty, looking at that homely countenance, could see poor, bewildered Dolphinton happily ambling round his Irish bog, ruled certainly, but kindly, and as certainly protected from his mother’s disturbing influence. She drew a breath, and said: “I’ll help you!”
Miss Plymstock’s already high colour deepened to a rich beetroot. “You’re very obliging! I’m not one to wrap things up in clean linen, so I’ll tell you I know how he was made to offer for you, and what you said when you rejected him, and it made me think you was a nice girl, and one I’d be glad to meet. Once his ring’s on my finger I shall know what to do, for I’m not afraid of any of them; but the thing is, how to get it there? You must know, Miss Charing, that he’s got a set of spies round him, that carry tales to his Mama. I don’t doubt she’s told them he’s a trifle queer in his head. Well! If Sam —that’s my brother!—would lend me his aid, I could maybe do the thing, but he won’t, for he don’t like Foster, and he would be glad to match me with a friend of his own, if he could do it. What he says is, an Earl’s all very well if he’s affluent, but one like Foster, with a weak head and no fortune, is a bad bargain. But to my way of thinking he’s a better bargain than a tea-merchant, with snuff all over his waitcoat, and one foot in the grave—even if Mr. Muthill was to offer for me, which I’ll lay my life he don’t mean to!”
“Exactly so!” said Kitty faintly.
“I’ve thought of Gretna Green,” pursued Miss Plymstock, “because banns won’t serve. If her ladyship didn’t discover we had put ‘em up, Sam would, for he keeps a close watch on me. I know it ain’t the thing to be married across the Border—”
“No, pray do not do that!” Kitty interrupted, much shocked.
“I can’t do it, because it would cost a deal of money, and her ladyship don’t allow Foster more than a pittance. And it wouldn’t be good for Foster to be chasing to Scotland for as much as three days, I daresay, thinking all the time his Mama was on his heels,” replied Miss Plymstock, with unshaken calm.
“Oh, I am persuaded it would be very bad for him! We must think of a better scheme than that.”
“But can you?” asked Miss Plymstock.