Tom gave a chuckle.
"Faith, the child is rich in—" He caught Philips eye and subsided. "Oh, ay, ay! Go on."
"I know no more. I deemed it time for me to withdraw."
"The proper thing to have done," said Tom solemnly, "was to have struck an attitude and said, 'Not so! The girl is mine!'"
"What right had I? I was not amongst the favoured ones."
"Don't sneer, Philip," interposed Sir Maurice. "There must be something behind all this."
Philip turned to him.
"That's what I hope and trust! You must go at once to Lady Malmerstoke's!" His head sank into his hands and he gave way to a gust of laughter. "Oh, Gad! neither would give way an inch. Both held Clo to her promise!"
"Ye seem monstrous light-hearted about it," said his uncle.
Philip sprang up.