“Ri, dear, don't you think we had better come right straight to the point? I feel sure Count Bunker is only waiting till he knows us a little better, and I guess it will save him considerable embarrassment if we begin.”
“You are the best judge, Eleanor. I guess your notions are never far of being all right.”
With a gratified smile Eleanor addressed the Count.
“My brother and I are affinities,” she said. “You can speak to him just as openly as you can to me. What is fit for me to hear is fit for him.”
Assuring her that he would not hesitate to act upon this guarantee if necessary, the Count nevertheless diplomatically suggested that he would sooner leave it to the lady to open the discussion.
“Well,” she said, “I suppose we may presume you have called here as Lord Tulliwuddle's friend?”
“You may, Miss Maddison.”
“And no doubt he has something pretty definite to suggest?”
“Matrimony,” smiled the Count.
Her brother threw him a stern smile of approval.