Mr. Standen, however, was not at all easy; and he took the earliest opportunity of telling Kitty so. “Shatterbrained, that’s what you are, my dear girl!” he informed her, with some severity. “First it’s one thing, and then it’s another!
Told me you wanted to come to town to establish yourself, but all you do is to mix yourself up in affairs that don’t concern you. Shouldn’t wonder if you were to find yourself at a standstill.”
“But, Freddy, you would not have me refuse to help poor Dolph?”
“Well, I would,” he said. “Mind, it don’t matter to me if he chooses to marry that shocking fright, because he ain’t a Standen, for one thing; and for another he’s so badly touched in his upper works there’s no saying but what he might not do something a dashed sight worse than marry a tradesman’s daughter. Thing is, bound to be a rare kick-up if the thing comes off, and I’d as lief have nothing to do with it.” He met Miss Charing’s slightly reproachful eyes manfully, and added: “Tell you what, Kit! Got too kind a heart!”
A smile swept across her face. “Oh, Freddy, how absurd you are! When you have a much kinder one than I have!”
“No, really, Kit!” protested Freddy, revolted. “Haven’t got anything of the sort! Been on the town for years!”
“Yes, you have,” averred Kitty, lifting his hand to her cheek for a brief moment. “And when I consider how dreadfully I have imposed upon you—Oh, well! At least, I promise I won’t embroil you in this business! You won’t object to it if I help them? For it is the most shocking thing, Freddy!—I could not speak of it with Dolph standing by, but Lady Dolphinton holds him in subjection by threatening to have him shut up as a lunatic! And that he is not!”
“You don’t mean it?” exclaimed Freddy, much struck. “Of course he ain’t a lunatic! Got no brains, that’s all. Well, I ain’t got any either, but you wouldn’t say I was a lunatic, would you?”
“No, and you have got brains, Freddy!” said Kitty indignantly.
Mr. Standen, already shaken by having his hand rubbed worshipfully against a lady’s cheek, goggled at her. “You think I’ve got brains?” he said, awed. “Not confusing me with Charlie?”