'At baby's impending discomfiture? Are you always so benevolently disposed towards the babies, Mr. Borlase?'
'No indeed. If I have been asked once to be sponsor in this parish I have been asked a score of times and have always refused.'
'Then you are a most inconsistent individual. What excuse can you offer for breaking your rule?'
'That one must draw the line somewhere.'
'So you will be open to all offers?'
'On the contrary this is the only one I shall accept. The rule immediately comes into practice again. No other baby would have induced me to break it.'
'But you won't have the felicity of standing by Mrs. Marlowe. Mrs. Hennifer is her proxy.'
'I shall have another felicity, however.'
'And what is that?'
'The felicity of standing by you.'