“I knew she would reject you!” said Lady Sheringham. “What delicately nurtured female, I ask of you, my son, would consent to marry one of whose footsteps are set upon the path of Vice? Must she not shrink from those libertine propensities which — ”
“Here, I say, ma’am!” protested the startled Viscount. “It’s not as bad as that, ’pon my soul it’s not!”
His uncle heaved a sigh. “You will allow, dear boy, that there is scarcely an extravagant folly you have not committed since you came of age.”
“No, I won’t,” retorted the Viscount. “Dash it, a man can’t be on the Town without kicking up a lark or so every now and then!”
“Anthony, can you tell your Mother that there is not a — a Creature (for I cannot bring myself to call her a Female!) with whom you are not ashamed to be seen in the most public of places? Hanging upon your arm, and caressing you in a manner which fills me with repugnance?”
“No, I can’t,” replied the Viscount. “But I’d give a monkey to know who told you about that little ladybird!”
He rolled a choleric eye towards his uncle as he spoke, but that gentleman’s attention was fixed upon the opposite wall, and his thoughts appeared to be far removed from earthly considerations.
“You will break my heart!” declared Lady Sheringham, applying her handkerchief to her eyes again.
“No, I shan’t, ma’am,” said her son frankly. “You didn’t break your heart over any of Father’s fancies that ever I heard of! Or if you did you can’t do it again. Stands to reason! Besides, when I’m married I shall hedge off, never fear!”
“But you are not going to be married!” Lady Sheringham pointed out. “And that is not all! Never in my life have I been so mortified as when I was obliged to apologize to General Ware for your abominable behaviour on the road to Kensington last month! I was ready to sink! Of course you were intoxicated!”