CHAPTER II
IN WHICH HUGH BREAKS THE NEWS
Lady Linden had just come in from one of her usual and numerous inspections, during which she had found it necessary to reprove one of the under-gardeners. She had described him to himself, his character, his appearance and his methods from her own point of view, and had left the man stupefied and amazed at the extent of her vocabulary and her facility of expression. He was still scratching his head, dazedly, when she came into the drawing-room.
“Hugh, you here? Where is Marjorie?”
“Down by the pond, I think,” he said, with an attempt at airiness.
“In a moment you will make me angry. You know what I wish to know. Did you propose to Marjorie, Hugh?”
“Did I—” He seemed astonished. “Did I what?”
“Propose to Marjorie! Good heavens, man, isn’t that why I sent you there?”
“I certainly did not propose to her. How on earth could I?”
“There is no reason on earth why you should not have proposed to her that I can see.”