Elfreda, however, was magnificent.
“General Norris has asked me to marry him, papa, and I should like to do so.” The precision of the speech had a sort of astringent humor which somehow had the effect of keeping “The Dadda” in hand. It served to remind him that, in spite of the strain which had been cast upon him, it was his duty to remember that beyond all things he was a gentleman.
There was a long moment of silence in which it seemed to George Norris that anything might happen, and then Lord Carabbas, obviously making a tremendous effort to keep calm, fixed the young man with the eye of war and growled, “I don’t think I have the pleasure of your acquaintance and yet I seem to know your face.”
There was another long and tense moment. Involuntarily George Norris stepped back another pace. And then he said in that curiously frank manner which Lady Elfreda liked so much, “Don’t you remember me, sir? I am George Norris.”
“Norris—George Norris?” My lord’s brow was a thundercloud. But that was merely the process of thought. For the moment his memory had betrayed him.
“Perhaps, sir,” said the young man in his straightforward fashion, “you will remember my father better than you remember me.”
Lord Carabbas shook his head. Plainly he was still at a loss.
“My father, sir, was butler for nearly thirty years at Bally Euchra,” said General Norris modestly.
XLIII
A pin might have been heard to fall on the hall parquet. And then the voice of Lord Carabbas rose to a bellow.