“It strikes me, Percy, if I was in his place I should ask you to make yourself a little less familiar at the big house.”
The youth looked at his mother in surprise. What was she driving at? Was she seeking to pry into his relations with Cordelia?
“Mother, I do not quite understand you. What the world should Lord Oakleigh have to do with my familiarity at the castle?”
“Why, doesn’t he intend to marry with the Lady Cordelia Chester?”
For the life of him our hero could not keep back the start, nor the flush that mounted to his brow and temples; but not a sign of the emotion appeared in his voice when he spoke.
“I know nothing of the young lord’s intentions.”
“But,” pursued the woman, seeming desirous of gaining information, “so long and so intimate, as you have been at the castle, you ought to know what the general idea is, what the plan is in that respect. How does the old earl regard the matter? Of course he wants the girl to marry with his own son’s son.”
“What do you think about it? Do you believe he wishes it?”
“No, I do not!” Percy answered plumply.