"Why, mamma?'
"Because anybody hearing you might suppose you were not quite right in your mind."
The Duchess's visit put Mrs. Winstanley in good-humour with all the world, but especially with Roderick Vawdrey. She sent him an invitation to her next dinner, and when her husband seemed inclined to strike his name out of her list, she defended her right of selection with a courage that was almost heroic.
"I can't understand your motive for asking this fellow," the Captain said, with a blacker look than his wife had ever before seen on his countenance.
"Why should I not ask him, Conrad? I have known him ever since he was at Eton, and the dear Squire was very fond of him."
"If you are going to choose your acquaintance in accordance with the taste of your first husband, it will be rather a bad look out for your second," said the Captain.
"What objection can you have to Roderick?"
"I can have, and I have, a very strong objection to him. But I am not going to talk about it yet awhile."
"But, Conrad, if there is anything I ought to know——" began Mrs. Winstanley, alarmed.
"When I think you ought to know it you will be told, my dear Pamela. In the meantime, allow me to have my own opinion about Mr. Vawdrey."