The Earl kept, his glass up. “This gentleman is a good deal in your confidence, I gather.”
“I know of no reason why he should not be,” said Judith, a little stiffly. “I believe him to be very worthy of our confidence. He is not only our cousin, but most truly our friend.”
He lowered his glass. “He is fortunate to have so easily secured your good opinion,” he said. “Does he advise an early marriage for Peregrine, I wonder?”
“He has not told me so,” said Judith.
“No doubt he will,” said his lordship. “You may tell him, when he does, that I have not the least intention of permitting Peregrine to marry yet awhile.”
He got up, but she detained him. “I don’t know why you should take this tone, Lord Worth, nor why, having promised your consent to Perry’s marriage next year, you should suddenly change your mind.”
“Oh,” said the Earl with a sardonic smile, “you may take it that I have too nice a sense of my duty to allow my ward to entangle himself in matrimony so young.”
“That is not the true answer,” she said. “For some reason it does not suit you to see Perry married. I should wish to know what that reason is.”
“At the moment,” said the Earl, “I fear I cannot call it to mind.”
He left her considerably put out. She had been in a fair way to acknowledge herself to have been mistaken in him, and now, just as she had warmed towards him, he made her angry again. She looked after him resentfully, until her consciousness was recalled by Mr. Pierrepoint, who came up to ask her if she would join a lottery-table in the next room.