“Measles,” he said imperturbably.
“Nonsense!”
“Of course: it was Freddy’s offering on the altar of parental curiosity. Kitty preferred to lay the blame at the door of your deplorable uncle’s eccentricity.”
“That might well be true,” she said, considering deeply. “When my uncle made this disgraceful plan you may depend upon it he meant Jack to benefit! I declare it serves him right to be so set-down! Perhaps he hopes it will all come to nothing. He could not refuse his consent to the engagement, of course, because he will never go back on his word. It is one of the things one so particularly dislikes in him! What should we do?”
“Do? Why, nothing! Except, perhaps, enjoy a diverting episode.”
“For my part, I do not find it diverting!” she said tartly. “I think you should demand to know the whole!”
“Oh, do you? And for my part I think I should be foolish beyond permission to do anything of the kind. Freddy’s efforts to concoct suitable lies for my delectation might, I daresay, be amusing, but I think I won’t put him to so much mental fatigue.”
“Oh, dear, I suppose he would lie to you! How very dreadful it is! And he expects me to dress Kitty, and to take her to parties with me—”
“No, you are mistaken. I collect that he has abandoned that scheme.”
“Is she to return to Arnside?” asked her ladyship hopefully.