Ballinger laughed immoderately. Probably this turned Miss Clayton's attention more directly to him.
"By the bye, Sir Mordaunt, is it true that you are going to give up your baronetcy, and become an American citizen?"
"You have given me too little encouragement," he replied, promptly, with a stage sigh.
"Well!" she said, "I don't know about encouragement. I should say you have neglected your opportunities. But I believe you followed my advice. Only take care you don't bark up the wrong tree."
"There's such a forest," he said. "It's awfully confusing."
Grace had some conversation with her hostess after dinner.
The Caldwells were to leave New York for their home in the Rocky Mountains in the course of a week. It was arranged that Grace should write to Mrs. Caldwell when she and her brother went westward, and Mrs. Frampton was included in the cordial invitation to "Falcon's Nest" offered to the English travellers.
"I like Mrs. Caldwell," said Mordaunt as they drove home. "She is a good sort. The girl's dull."
"Not at all; she is young, and has not lost the sweet privileges of youth for remaining in the background, as Miss Clayton has."
"Give me a girl who has lost the privilege, then. I can't stand a bread-and-butter miss. I wish Mrs. Caldwell would ask Mrs. Flynn and her cousin to Falcon's Nest when we are there; not that I shall be there for more than a day or two, I fancy. I shall leave you and Aunt Su, while I go off to Pueblo, and stay with Charington at his ranch."