“That distressed him; it wasn’t that.”
“Might have been the sheep, my lady.”
“It might have been, but it wasn’t. I think, Ben, that you are well aware of the real reason. Now, why have you made this match?”
Fishpingle made a gesture of repudiation. Lady Pomfret laughed.
“I can guess that Nature was the matchmaker, not you. It is unfortunate that they are cousins.”
“Why so, my lady? There is no danger in such matches, where the strain on both sides is clean and sound. That is Sir Geoffrey’s own view.”
Lady Pomfret held up a protesting finger.
“My dear Ben, I cannot talk eugenics with you, because I should be confounded by your superior knowledge. What I want to ask you is this: are the young people deeply attached to each other, or is it a mere passing flirtation?”
He answered her positively.
“They are deeply attached, my lady. I can assure you that it is no passing fancy, but the real thing.”