“I never was here in my life till now,” replied the untruthful Miss Dare; “we don't think much of it; it s too small; we're used to so much larger rivers.”
“I am afraid you would not like our English rivers then; they are mere brooks compared with this.”
“Are they indeed?” said Victoria, with an appearance of vague surprise; “how curious! I don't think I care to be an Englishwoman then. I could not live without big rivers.”
Lord Dunbeg stared, and hinted that this was almost unreasonable.
“Unless I were a Countess!” continued Victoria, meditatively, looking at Alexandria, and paying no attention to his lordship; “I think I could manage if I were a C-c-countess. It is such a pretty title!”
“Duchess is commonly thought a prettier one,” stammered Dunbeg, much embarrassed. The young man was not used to chaff from women.
“I should be satisfied with Countess. It sounds well. I am surprised that you don't like it.” Dunbeg looked about him uneasily for some means of escape but he was barred in. “I should think you would feel an awful responsibility in selecting a Countess. How do you do it?”
Lord Dunbeg nervously joined in the general laughter as Sybil ejaculated:
“Oh, Victoria!” but Miss Dare continued without a smile or any elevation of her monotonous voice:
“Now, Sybil, don't interrupt me, please. I am deeply interested in Lord Dunbeg's conversation. He understands that my interest is purely scientific, but my happiness requires that I should know how Countesses are selected. Lord Dunbeg, how would you recommend a friend to choose a Countess?”