“I trust that Rupert will not be beguiled into any discretions, no matter how attractive the ladies of his party may be; he owes it to his self-respect to choose his wife from his own countrywomen,” remarked her ladyship, with a swift glance at her daughter, whose eyes were fixed upon her plate, as if she had no interest in anything but the morsel that she was diligently reducing to mince-meat with her knife.
“Are the ladies of America more artful in that respect than those of any other nationality, Lady Linton?” asked the young man, innocently, but with a quizzical smile.
“I am happy to say that I know but very little about them, but what I do know has not served to prepossess me in their favor,” was the sharp retort of her ladyship.
“Miriam, I will trouble you for another cup of coffee,” said Sir William, quietly, but in a tone which warned his sister that she had better not pursue the conversation further on that line.
Then he turned to his nephew, with a genial smile, saying:
“I only wish Percy had not been in quite such a hurry to settle at the Grange; I would really like to have you run over to the United States with Rupert for a little holiday before you begin work.”
“Thank you, Uncle Will; but, truly, I feel that it would not be right to take either the time or the money for such a journey. My duty plainly points to the earliest possible restoration of my fallen house,” the young man answered, gravely.
“I wish that every young man possessed as conscientious a regard for duty as you do, Percy. I confess I honor you for your desire to clear the Grange of all incumbrance, though I would gladly be your banker if you would consent to accompany Rupert.”
“You have already been my banker to such an extent that I do not feel willing to draw upon you any more. I am very grateful for all your kindness, Uncle Will, but indeed my self-respect demands that I should begin to depend upon my own exertions; so I shall wed myself to the home of my ancestors until every debt is paid and the glory of the days of my grandfather is restored,” Percy concluded, smilingly, but with a firmness which plainly told that his mind was made up regarding the course he was to pursue.
“I consider it a senseless, quixotic notion; I think you had much better sell the place and realize what you can from it, rather than spend the best of your life in trying to pay debts that other people have contracted,” said his mother, resentfully.