“It appears to be a question of copyright,” said a wit.
“I hold the copyright in both at present,” said Caroline, in an exceedingly grim manner.
The strains of the dance began to float through the room. The younger section of the company had again taken their partners; a brace of royalties had arrived, yet in spite of that jest and counter-jest were in the air.
“Cheriton was never in it from the start,” said the marquis, “if you want my candid opinion.”
“The luckier he,” said the first critic. “What does any man want with a girl who hasn’t a sou, a country parson’s daughter?”
“Healthy, I should say,” said critic the second. “Comes of a good stock on the mother’s side.”
“Ye-es,” said a third. “Useful.”
“Finest-looking girl in England,” said a fourth.
“They can both afford to marry her,” said the marquis, “and I will lay the odds that the better man of the two does.”
“Cheriton gets her in that event.”