Her charming voice, her kind, pleading eyes, her gracious gestures, were not wasted upon the Squire. Lionel, in a cheerful tone, said to the company generally:
“Fishpingle was about to read us something of father’s, something eugenic and relevant.”
Sir Geoffrey protested:
“Um! Ha! In the presence of ladies——” He cleared his throat.
Margot said happily:
“I shall listen with pleasure to anything Sir Geoffrey has written.”
Lionel turned to Fishpingle, who held the clipping in his hand.
“Go ahead, Fishpingle! Please remember, Margot, that my father is astride his favourite hunter. Now for it!”
Fishpingle, thus adjured, and after a glance at Sir Geoffrey, began to read aloud: “The question of in-and-in breeding——”
“Gracious!” ejaculated Lady Pomfret.