"Mildred is fading away to a shadow of late," his mother said. "I must take her to the sea-shore for change."
"When?" asked Sir Everard.
"Let me see. Ah! when you are married, I think. What time did you come home last night, and how is Lady Louise?"
"Lady Louise is very well. My good mother"—half laughing—"are you very anxious for a daughter-in-law at Kingsland to quarrel with?"
"I shall not quarrel with Lady Louise."
"Then, willy-nilly, it must be Lord Carteret's daughter, and no other?"
"Everard," his mother said, earnestly, "you know I have set my heart on seeing Lady Louise your wife; and she loves you, I know. And you, my darling Everard—you will not disappoint me?"
"I should be an ungrateful wretch if I did! Rest easy, ma mère—Lady Louise shall become Lady Kingsland, or the fault shall not be mine. I believed I should have asked the momentous little question last night but for that interloper, George Grosvenor!"
"Ah! jealous, of course. He is always de trop, that great, stupid George," my lady said. "And was the dinner-party agreeable; and what time did you get home?"
"The dinner-party was delightful, and I came home shortly after midnight. What time Sir Galahad arrived I can't say—half an hour before I did, at least."