"There's something worse than the doctor come," said Peckover with a long face.
"I don't know what's worse than the doctor, unless it's the undertaker," returned Gage.
"Well, I do," said Peckover feelingly. "A most unfortunate thing has happened. A girl who I was a bit sweet on out there has followed me over."
Gage whistled. "Then our game's all up. Of course she'll know you are Quorn and I am not."
"No," replied Peckover subtly. "I have made it all right about that. Told her there was a mistake and I was not the rightful heir."
"That was smart of you," Gage said with gloomy approval. "Well, what's the trouble, then. The lady doesn't expect me to marry her, does she?"
"Yes," answered Peckover with intensity, "she does."
"What?" Gage nearly landed out of bed in his surprise. "Me?" Then laughed incredulously.
"She says she has come six thousand miles to be Lady Quorn and she is going to be Lady Quorn."
"The deuce she is. How is she going to manage that?"