“He is considered, besides, an unusually promising and intelligent young nobleman, and in Germany, where noblemen are still constantly used, that says a great deal for him.”
“Does it, mamma?”
“Certainly it does. Education there is so severe that young Englishmen are beginning to know less than they ever did, and in most cases that isn’t saying much. Compare the Baron with the young men you meet here!”
She looked at her daughter triumphantly, and Alicia could only reply, “Yes, mamma?”
“Compare them and see the difference. Look at the Baron’s friend, Mr Bunker, who is a very agreeable and amusing man, I admit, but look at the difference!”
“What is it?” Alicia could not help asking.
“What is it, Alicia! It is—ah—it’s—er—it is, in short, the effect of a carefully cultivated mind and good blood.”
“But don’t you think Mr Bunker cultivated, mamma—and—and—well-bred?”
“He has an amusing way of saying things,—but then you must remember that the Baron is doubtless equally entertaining in his native language,—and possibly a superficial knowledge of a few of the leading questions of the day; but the Baron talked to me for half an hour on the relations of something or other in Germany to—er—something else—a very important point, I assure you.”
“I always thought him very clever,” said Lady Alicia with a touch of warmth, and then instantly changed colour at the horrible slip.