“As your father is in the prime of life,” said Biddenden, with heavy sarcasm, “and has two other sons beside yourself—”
“Too young to be married,” Freddy pointed out. “Well, look at it! Charlie’s up at Oxford, and Edmund ain’t even at Eton yet!”
“I can tell you now that you have wasted your time! If the girl means to marry any other than Jack, you may call me a zany!”
“Now, that’s where you’re wrong!” said Freddy, speaking with authority. “It ain’t Jack: doesn’t seem to like him above half.”
Biddenden gave a snort. “She’s piqued, I don’t doubt. That she doesn’t hanker after him you will find it hard to make me believe! As for her entertaining for an instant the thought of marrying you—! Upon my soul, I have not been so much diverted since I came to this damned, cold house!”
“Lay you a monkey she takes me!” offered Freddy.
“You must be out of your senses! If you imagine she will accept you for the sake of a title, you much mistake the matter! She has refused Dolphinton already, and he, as he will be only too ready to inform you, is an Earl!”
He had no sooner uttered these words than he regretted them. Lord Dolphinton, who had shown signs of relapsing into the state of suspended animation natural to him, responded as to a clarion-call. “Only Earl in the family,” he said. “Thought she’d like it. Good thing to be a Countess. Don’t see it myself, but that’s what my mother says. Must know, because she’s a Countess. Seems to like it pretty well. No good Freddy’s offering. Only be a Viscount. That’s better than a Baron, but George don’t count in any case. Can’t think why he came.”
“If you say once more that I was not invited,” exploded the much-tried Biddenden, “I will not be answerable for the consequences!”
“Well, what did you want to start him off for?” said Freddy reasonably. “You might have known he’d catch his own name! That’s all right and tight, Dolph: don’t pay any heed to George! He’s a gudgeon.”