‘I am not sure that he attracts me,’ said the elder man.
‘He looks extremely ill-tempered—most unlikely to please a young lady.’
‘There I do not altogether agree with you. We are always being told that women are strange things,’ said Fullarton.
‘I am astonished at the view you take, uncle. After all, I am unable to see why my proposal should be less welcome than his—that is, if he intends to make one.’
‘You certainly have solid advantages. After all, that is the main point with women,’ said the man for whose sake one woman, at least, had lost all. The habit of bitterness had grown strong.
‘I shall go to Morphie to-morrow, and ride one of your horses, sir, if you have no objection.’
‘Take one, by all means; you will make all the more favourable impression. It is a very wise way of approaching your goddess—if you have a good seat, of course. Speid looks mighty well in the saddle.’
He could not resist tormenting his nephew.
The very sound of Gilbert’s name was beginning to annoy Fordyce, and he changed the subject. It was not until the two men parted for the night that it was mentioned again.
‘I am going out early to-morrow,’ said Robert, ‘so I may not see you before you start. Good luck, Crauford.’