"Oh," said Sir William, staring at her, "is that what you are thinking of?"
"Mind—mind you don't say it," cried Lady Gore.
"I shan't say it, certainly," cried Sir William, still bewildered; "but has he said it? That's more to the point."
"He hasn't yet," she admitted.
"Well, he never struck me in that light, I must say," said Sir William. "I always thought it was you he adored."
"Cela n'empêche pas," said Lady Gore, laughing.
"I daresay he would do very well," said Sir William, who, as he further considered the question, was by no means insensible to the advantages of the suggestion put before him; "it is only his politics that are against him."
"I am afraid," said Lady Gore, "that Rachel would always think her father knew best."
"Afraid!" said Sir William, "what more would you have?"
"My dear William," said his wife, smiling at him, "she might think her husband knew best, that is what some people do."