She was but too anxious to secure him—that is, supposing him to be a lord. Had she known that he was not, her answer would have been delivered in very different terms; and the acquaintance between her and Mr Swinton would have ended, with as little ceremony as it had begun.
It seemed on the edge of such termination, as the pseudo-lord, stammering in his speech, endeavoured to make rejoinder.
And not much farther off, when this was made, and the old excuse still pleaded for preserving that inexplicable incognito!
Swinton was in truth taken by surprise; and scarce knew what to say.
But the American mother did; and in plain terms told him, that, until the title was declared, she must decline the proffered honour of having him for a son-in-law!
When it was made known, he might expect a more categorical answer.
Her tone was not such as to make him despair. On the contrary, it clearly indicated that the answer would be favourable, provided the conditions were fulfilled.
But then, this was sufficient for despair. How was he to make her believe in his having a title?
“By possessing it?” he said to himself, as, after the fruitless interview, he strode off from the Clarendon Hotel. “By possessing it,” he repeated. “And, by heavens! I shall possess it, as sure as my name’s Swinton!”
Farther on he reflected: