“Squints!” said George.
“A slight cast in one eye,” corrected Louisa. “However, we are not concerned with that. Melissa is an extremely handsome creature. No one can deny that!”
“And such a desirable connection!” sighed Lady Wyndham. “Quite one of the best families!”
“They tell me Saar won’t last another five years, not at the rate he’s going now,” said George. “Everything mortgaged up to the hilt, and Saar drinking himself into his grave! They say his father did the same.”
Both ladies regarded him with disfavour. “I hope, George, you do not mean to imply that Melissa is addicted to the bottle?” said his wife.
“Oh no, no! Lord, no, I never thought of such a thing! I’m sure she’s an excellent young woman. But this I will say, Louisa: I don’t blame Richard if he don’t want her!” said George defiantly. “Myself, I’d as soon marry a statue!”
“I must say,” conceded Louisa, “she is a trifle cold, perhaps. But it is a very delicate position for her, you’ll allow. It has been understood since both were children that she and Richard would make a match of it, and she knows that as well as we do. And here is Richard, behaving in the most odious way! I am out of all patience with him!”
George rather liked his brother-in-law, but he knew that it would be foolhardy to defend him, so he held his peace. Lady Wyndham took up the tale of woe. “Heaven forbid that I should force my only son to a disagreeable marriage, but I live in hourly dread of his bringing home some dreadful, low-born creature on his arm, and expecting me to welcome her!”
A vision of his brother-in-law crossed George’s mind’s eye. He said doubtfully: “Really, you know, I don’t think he’ll do that, ma’am.”
“George is quite right,” announced Louisa. “I should think the better of Richard if he did. It quite shocks me to see him so impervious to every feminine charm! It is a great piece of nonsense for him to dislike the opposite sex, but one thing is certain: dislike females he may, but he owes a duty to the name, and marry he must! I am sure I have been at pains to introduce him to every eligible young woman in town, for I am by no means set on his marrying Melissa Brandon. Well! He would not look twice at any of them, so if that is the mind he is in, Melissa will suit him very well.”