To his amazement Fishpingle remained luke-warm. He said almost awkwardly:
“I wish you and her ladyship all happiness, Master Lionel.”
“Her ladyship!”
Lionel laughed as loudly and jovially as the Squire. Then he slapped Fishpingle hard on the shoulder.
“Her ladyship be—blowed for a shining bubble! I’ve hooked and landed Miss Joyce.”
Fishpingle beamed speechless with emotion. It was a tremendous moment, a soul-satisfying pause as if the whole world stood still. Then he said fervently:
“God bless you both! I have prayed for this day. Here, in this very room, just before you came back, the Squire and I drank a toast: ‘Master Lionel’s future wife.’”
Lionel stared at him.
“What? Father was thinking of—her?”
“No,” said Fishpingle grimly; “but I was.”