“That’s it,” agreed Freddy. “No sense in letting these fellows steal a march on me. Came to beg you to do me the honour of accepting my hand.”
The hand was once more extended to him; Miss Charing said, with a sigh, and modestly downcast eyes: “Oh, Freddy, I do not know how to answer you!”
Mr. Standen, unprepared for this improvisation, was put out. “Dash it, Kit!” he began.
“For I had come to believe that I had mistaken your sentiments!” said Kitty hastily. “Now I see that it is not so! You, I am persuaded, would not wish to marry me for the sake of Uncle Matthew’s fortune!”
“Thing is,” said Freddy, recognizing his cue, “never thought my uncle would permit it. Thought it was useless to approach him. As soon as I read his letter—bespoke a chaise and came at once! Trust you’ll allow me to speak to him in the morning.”
“Oh, yes, Freddy! It will make me very happy!” said Kitty soulfully.
Under the bemused stare from three pairs of eyes, Mr. Standen, with rare grace, kissed Miss Charing’s hand, and said that he was very much obliged to her.
Chapter V
The approval and the felicitations which a young lady might have expected to have greeted the news of her betrothal to a man of rank and fortune were denied to Miss Charing. Only Lord Dolphinton was pleased; and as it soon became apparent that his pleasure had its root in the realization that not the most exacting parent could expect him to marry a lady already betrothed to another man, his congratulations were not felt to be particularly gratifying.
Lord Biddenden’s chagrin found expression in ejaculatory half-sentences, spoken largely under his breath; and while he was very angry with Freddy, who had snatched at an heiress without the justification of being himself in straitened circumstances, he was also quite as angry with Hugh, for having done so little to make his suit agreeable to Kitty.