“If you were to persuade some fair lady to ask him, sir,” I said, “he would never refuse her.”
“Ha—what do you mean, Miss ——?”
“I really do not know who the lady is,” I answered; “but I dare say your lordship is well aware.”
“Oh yes, I know quite well. He has been engaged to Miss —— two years; I wonder why they have not married before now.”
“I really cannot tell,” I answered; “but perhaps they do not know that you would approve—or Westover may think that he has not sufficient to keep his position as your grandson.”
“Ay, that old uncle of his, Westover,” he said, “left his fortune charged with such a jointure that nothing will come in from that till the old lady dies—”
He thought for a moment, and then added, “But all that will be speedily arranged. Why did he not speak to me about it himself?”
“I only speak myself by guess, my lord,” I answered, “and am conscious I am taking an unwarrantable liberty in mentioning the subject to you at all.”
“Not at all, not at all,” said the earl, “I’m obliged to you; but I cannot be expected to think of all these things for everybody. He only told me that he intended to marry Miss ——; and I said, very well, I had no objection; for she is a very good girl, and of a very old family, though poor, desperate poor. Go and tell him, Louis, that if he likes to stay here and marry, I will make every arrangement to render him comfortable. Don’t let fortune stand in the way a moment. He shall be put at ease.”
I had a great inclination to say a good word for myself; but I forbore, and as I rose to go, the earl asked, in an ordinary tone, “Have you seen your mother this morning?”