Lord Biddenden waited until he had been supported out of the room before observing, with a significant look: “It is not difficult to understand what has cast him into this ill-humour, of course!”
“Didn’t invite you,” said Dolphinton, showing his understanding.
“Oh, hold your tongue!” exclaimed Biddenden, quite exasperated. “My uncle must be in his dotage! A more ill-managed business—”
“Ill-managed indeed,” said Hugh. “There has been a want of delicacy which must be excessively disagreeable, not to you, but to our cousin here!”
“She is not our cousin!”
“My dear brother, we have thought of her as our cousin ever since she was in her cradle.”
“Yes, I know we have,” said Biddenden, “but you heard what my uncle said! She’s not!”
Hugh said arctically: “That was not what I meant. I am happy to be able to say that such a suspicion has never crossed my mind.”
“Coming it rather too strong, Hugh!” said Biddenden, with a short laugh.
“You forget your company!” said Hugh, allowing annoyance to lend an edge to his voice.