“And do you honestly believe that?” he exclaimed.
“I am quite sure of it. I may have to jump a very big fence indeed when she learns the harmless deception I have practiced on her, but I do hope most devoutly that she will look at the facts more calmly than you have done.”
The Earl took a turn or two on the hearth-rug, from which wisdom had temporarily taken flight. He thought now he could see a way to avoid open rupture, and he believed, quite rightly, that his son was in no mood to accept further disillusionment.
“At any rate,” he grumbled, “you are cutting a discred—sorry, I didn’t quite mean that—you are not rushing away from town again in pursuit of the young lady?”
“No.”
“When is she due back in London?”
“On Sunday.”
“And you will not see her before that day?”
“I believe not—in fact, I am fairly certain of it. Mrs. Leland joined her at Chester last night, so there should be no curtailment of the tour.”