“Yes, but Sherry — ”
“ No, I tell you! For one thing, a pretty behaved female don’t mention such subjects; and for another — Well, you wouldn’t understand!” He encountered an inquiring look from the eyes which met his so frankly, and cast about in his brain for a suitable explanation. “Confound you, Hero, there’s nothing in it! Everyone has a fancy piece or two, but it don’t signify a jot, take my word for it!”
Miss Wantage was perfectly ready to take his word, but she felt that the question had not been thoroughly thrashed out. “Well, but, Sherry, perhaps you did not explain it to Isabella quite well? Don’t you think — ”
“No, I don’t,” said his lordship hastily. “The long and the short of it is that Bella don’t care a rap for me.”
Miss Wantage, finding this hard to believe, suggested that poor Isabella must have had the headache.
“No, it wasn’t that. Not but what she did look a trifle pale, now you put me in mind of it. But Incomparable as ever!” he added loyally.
“She is very pretty,” said Miss Wantage. “She even looked pretty when she had spots.”
“ Spots?” repeated the Viscount, in a stunned voice. “She never had a spot in her life!”
“Well, not ordinary spots, like Sophy, but the ones you have with the measles, I mean.”
“Isabella didn’t have the measles!”