‘No; I am in the second volume only, which is always flat and uninteresting and skippable.’
‘I am glad to hear it, for I am anxious to have a little serious chat with you.’
Blanche placed her hands together in the form of supplication. ‘Oh, please, don’t, Mr Redgrave! I have just had a lecture of half an hour’s duration from mamma, and that was serious enough, in all conscience. Why will our parents and guardians expect us to have the wisdom of Solomon and the virtues of Dorcas before we are out of our teens!’
‘Perhaps I used a wrong word; I wished to speak to you about love.’
‘Oh! how delightful! Have you fallen in love at last, Mr Redgrave?’
Septimus did not like the phrase ‘at last,’ but he continued: ‘Also I wished to speak about matrimony.’
Blanche shook her head gravely. ‘That is a very serious subject.’
‘And yet matrimony is the natural sequence of love.’
‘Alas! yes,’ sighed Blanche.
So far the discussion was not encouraging; but Septimus resolved to persevere. ‘I have fallen in love with a lady who is at present under this roof.’