The Earl was standing with his back to the room, but he glanced over his shoulder, holding the decanter poised for a moment over one of the glasses. “Indeed! What may that mean?”
“Lord, nothing in particular!” said Peregrine. “What should it mean?”
“I wish I knew,” said the Earl, and returned to his task of filling the glasses.
Peregrine looked at him rather sharply, and after fidgeting with the lid of the snuff-box for a moment blurted out: “May I ask you a question, sir?”
“Certainly,” said the Earl, replacing the stopper in the decanter.
“What is it?”
“I daresay you won’t like it, and of course I may he wrong,” said Peregrine, “but I am Judith’s brother, and I did think at one time, when my cousin hinted at it, that you might be—well, what I wish to ask you is—is, in short—”
“I know exactly what you wish to ask me,” said the Earl, handing him one of the glasses.
“Oh!” Peregrine accepted the glass, and looked at him doubtfully.
“I can appreciate your anxiety,” continued the Earl, a trifle maliciously. “The thought of being saddled with me as a brother-in-law must be extremely unnerving.”