‘I am afraid that will be a somewhat difficult task to accomplish,’ replied Lavinia with an irritating acid smile.
‘Nevertheless, it must be done,’ said Penelope with a tone of decision worthy of the Iron Duke.
‘But how?’ inquired Lavinia.
‘Surely you remember the existence of that creature—Martha Jones. The fact of our brother having inherited a fortune will inspire her with fresh courage. New methods of attack will at once be resorted to, and the assault will never cease till she has reduced the fortress to submission. I never saw Miss Jones but once, but that was sufficient.’
‘I fully agree with you, my dear sister,’ said Lavinia; ‘but where do you propose to find a suitable partner for Septimus?’
‘We have no occasion to look far. Under this very roof is a lady adapted in every sense to make dear Septimus a suitable partner.’
‘I suppose you mean Mrs Fraser?’ mildly observed Lavinia.
‘Precisely. Mrs Fraser is, I should say, forty, possessed of a comfortable income, clever, and just the kind of woman to shield our brother from all the evils and temptations of this mortal life.’
‘I only see two difficulties,’ responded Lavinia: ‘Septimus may not like Mrs Fraser, and Mrs Fraser may not like Septimus.’
‘Ridiculous!’ said Penelope. ‘Who ever heard of a widow scarcely out of her thirties who would not jump at a man of fifty with nearly two thousand a year!’