Lady Macbeth suggested mildly that granddaughter might be more in accordance with the facts of the case.
“Granddaughter—I beg your pardon. One has no need to tell you, Mrs. Cathcart, who, I am sure, are a woman of the world, that this act of my son’s has caused concern in his family.”
Lady Macbeth was sorry if that was the case.
“In point of fact, for some little time past my son has been engaged to Lady Adela Rocklaw.”
“Not quite that, you know, Mater,” murmured the unhappy Braided Morning Coat.
“—To Lady Adela Rocklaw, a daughter of Lord Warlock, and his conduct will cause pain, although, of course, madam, it has not yet become public property, and I sincerely hope it may not become so.”
“You ain’t puttin’ it quite fair, are you, Mater?” ventured the Braided Morning Coat.
“Phil-ipp, please!” A wave of a she-proconsular hand. “Allow me to deal with the facts. A most embarrassing situation, madam, for two families.”
“One moment, Lady Shelmerdine,” said Lady Macbeth. “May I ask this question? Do I understand your son to be actually engaged to Lady Adela Rocklaw?”
“Yes, madam, you may take that to be so.”