"To be sure, but we don't talk of her."
"Why not, why ever not?"
"Because it hurts the old man; we have to be very careful about the old man. You listen, child, mavourneen. He never got over her marrying a Frenchy."
"But my father had a title, he was Comte St. Juste."
"As if that mattered," said Fergus, in a tone of violent contempt. "A title indeed, the Lord preserve us! The Desmonds don't want any title greater than their own."
"Is it very high up, Uncle Fergus?"
"High up? The stars couldn't reach it. There isn't a royal Duke in England we'd change with."
"Isn't there? I didn't know," said Margot. She spoke in a very soft, interested voice. "And some day you'll have it," she said.
"Yes; but for the Lord's sake don't mention the awful time when the old man is took from us."
"Oh, Uncle Fergus, I do love you," said Margot and she bent down and kissed him on his brow.