“Well, I don’t!” said Freddy. “Never heard of the fellow! Nice cake I should make of myself if I went around talking about people out of history! Anyone would think you’d been in the sun, Kitty!”
“Sun? It is snowing!” cried Miss Charing.
“In that case, I’ll be dashed if I go back to London tonight,” said Freddy. “Not that that’s what I meant, but never mind! What’s more, I ain’t as wealthy as all that.”
“You are wealthy enough not to be obliged to offer for an heiress!” said Miss Charing, darting a glance of scorn at him.
“Well, I ain’t going to offer for an heiress,” said Freddy patiently. A thought occurred to him; in some concern he added: “Kitty, you haven’t got this infectious complaint, have you? Don’t know what it is, but it goes very much about, they tell me. M’sister Meg was in bed a sennight with it.”
“Freddy!” exclaimed Miss Charing, staring fixedly at him. “Don’t you know why Uncle Matthew sent for you?”
“Said he had something important to say to me. I thought it was a hum!”
“But if you came at all why did you not come yesterday?” Kitty demanded.
“Been out of town,” explained Mr. Standen.
“Oh, Freddy, I have wronged you!” uttered Kitty, genuinely remorseful. “But George, and Hugh, and Dolph all knew, and so of course I supposed you must too!”