“You would, eh? Well, at all events, you seem to have some ideas in your head!” said Mr. Morville.
“Upon my word!” said the Dowager. “I do not know what the world is coming to! I can scarcely believe that my ears have not deceived me! That is not very likely, however, for I have very good hearing: it is a thing I pride myself upon. I should have supposed that if there were no objection to this match on our side, there could be none on yours,my dear sir!”
“If,” said Mr. Morville precisely, “I set any value on such things, ma’am, I should feel myself impelled to inform you that the Morvilles were seigneurs in Normandy when the Frants — if Frants there were at that date — were still in a state of serfdom!”
At this point, Mrs. Morville, who had been conferring with the Earl, interposed, saying: “Mr. Morville, St. Erth and I are agreed that it will not do to take Drusilla home today, while she feels so poorly, so we have decided that she shall go immediately to bed, and I will remain to take care of her, if you, ma’am, do not object!”
“Certainly! I shall be very happy!” said the Dowager. “If my nephew were at Stanyon, Mr. Morville, he would show you the Frant records, which we keep in the muniment room!”
“Yes, yes, ma’am, I have seen them! Nothing earlier than the fifteenth century! My brother has in his possession an interesting charter, granted by Edward III to our ancestor, Sir Ralph de Morville. He was a Garter Knight — one of the Founders, and the son of Reginald de Morville, who — Yes, my dear, what is it?”
“I have been saying, Mr. Morville,” explained his wife, with great patience, “that I am remaining here to nurse Drusilla. So if you will inform Mrs. Buxton of it she may pack a night-bag for me, and Peter can bring it to me.”
“In 1474,” said the Dowager, “we had the honour of entertaining Edward IV at Stanyon!”
“Ay, had you indeed?” said Mr. Morville. “ My family, of course, always held by the true line!”
It was now apparent to everyone that battle was fairly joined. Mrs. Morville gave it as her opinion that it would be useless to attempt to distract the attention of either combatant, but when Drusilla was assisted to rise from the sofa, to go upstairs to bed, and stood for a moment, supported by the Earl’s arm, Mr. Morville happened to notice this circumstance, and broke off in the middle of what he was saying to the Dowager to address fatherly words of encouragement to his daughter.