“It depends on circumstances over which he has no control,” said Harry, impressively. “He has my best wishes, and he would have yours, Graeme, I think, if you knew about it.”
“He has them, though I don’t know about it,” said Graeme. “I have confidence in him that he deserves success.”
“Yes, it is safe to wish him success—if not in one thing, in another. I am not sure that he quite knows what he wants yet, but I think I know what is good for him.”
“Rosie,” said Fanny, suddenly, “Mr Millar can set us right now. I am glad I thought of it. Mr Millar, is Mrs Roxbury your aunt, or only your brother’s?”
“I am afraid it is only Allan who can claim so close a relationship as that. I don’t think I can claim any relationship at all. I should have to consider, before I could make it clear even to myself, how we are connected.”
“It is much better not to consider the subject, then,” said Arthur, “as they are rather desirable people to have for relations; call them cousins, and let it go.”
“But at any rate she is not your aunt, and Amy Roxbury is not your cousin, as some one was insisting over Rose and me the other day. I told you so, Rosie.”
“Did you?” said Rose, languidly. “I don’t remember.”
“It was Mrs Gridley, I think, and she said—no, it must have been some one else—she said you were not cousins, but that it was a very convenient relationship, and very pleasant in certain circumstances.”
“Very true, too, eh, Charlie,” said Arthur, laughing.