The grey eyes sparkled. “So do I,” declared Horatia unexpectedly. “N-not really, of course, but with Pelham. He taught me. Charlotte says it is wrong. She is l-like that, you know, and it makes her very impatient with poor P-Pel. And I m-must say I feel a little impatient myself when Lizzie has to be sacrificed. Mama is sorry too, b-but she says we must all feel d-deeply thankful.” She coloured, and said rather gruffly: “It’s v-vulgar to care about Settlements, but you are very rich, are you not?”
“Very,” said his lordship, preserving his calm.
“Yes,” nodded Horatia. “W-well—you see!”
“I see,” agreed Rule. “You are going to be the Sacrifice.”
She looked up at him rather shyly. “It c-can’t signify to you, can it? Except that I know I’m not a Beauty, like L-Lizzie. But I have got the Nose, sir.”
Rule surveyed the Nose. “Undoubtedly, you have the Nose,” he said.
Horatia seemed determined to make a clean breast of her blemishes. “And p-perhaps you could become used to my eyebrows?”
The smile lurked at the back of Rule’s eyes. “I think, quite easily.”
She said sadly: “They won’t arch, you know. And I ought to t-tell you that we have quite given up hope of my g-growing any taller.”
“It would certainly be a pity if you did,” said his lordship.