He had the satisfaction of seeing Mr. Westruther’s brows snap together, and the laugh quite fade from his eyes; but it was only for a second. The frown vanished as swiftly as it had appeared; Mr. Westruther grinned at him, and said: “No, Freddy, no! Doing it too brown!”
“Ain’t doing it brown at all,” said Freddy stolidly. “Dolph, Hugh, and I all offered for Kit. Accepted me. Well, I knew she would!”
“What?”
“Dash it, Jack!” said Freddy, stung. “Any girl would rather marry me than Dolph or Hugh! No use saying Dolph’s an Earl: he’s run off his legs, besides being dicked in the nob! And as for Hugh—lord!”
“Just so,” concurred his cousin. “But, Freddy—but—! I still say that you are doing it too brown! I will allow that Kitty might prefer you to Dolph or Hugh, but I’m not such a green ’un that I will swallow this hum that you—you, sweet coz!—offered your hand and heart to Kitty Charing! It conjures up an enchanting picture, but no, Freddy, no!”
Freddy toyed with the idea of presenting Mr. Westruther with another picture, that of a long-standing but secret attachment, sketched by Miss Charing’s reckless hand. Something told him that it would not be accepted; and he said instead: “Thought you’d be surprised. Fact is, been thinking for some time I ought to be married. Eldest son, you know: duty!”
“And your father so stricken in years besides!” said Mr. Westruther helpfully.
“No,” said Freddy. “He ain’t stricken in years, but they’ve got measles in the house. No saying what might happen.”
This flight into the realms of fancy was too much for Mr. Westruther. “Enough!” he said. “This bubble was pricked before it was fully blown, coz. I hope you mean to regale me with the true story of what happened at Arnside. Did Dolph and Hugh indeed offer for Kitty?”
“Yes, they did, but anyone could have told ’em it wouldn’t fadge. Couldn’t expect Kit to like being asked only for Uncle Matthew’s fortune. Knew I didn’t want his blunt. Knew I was dashed fond of her, too. So I popped the question, and there we were. Got a notion we shall suit very well.”