“I’m afraid you’ll be rather bored,” suggested Lady Sophia.
Winnie reflected over this for a moment; then, chasing away a frown of indecision from her face, glanced happily at her aunt.
“At all events, you’ll allow that he’s very handsome.”
“Certainly,” said Lady Sophia. “I have only one fault to find with him. Aren’t his legs a little short? I wonder if he can wear a frock-coat without looking stumpy.”
“Fortunately, he’s absolutely indifferent to what he wears,” laughed Winnie.
“Yes, I’ve noticed that; his clothes look as if they were bought ready-made. You must really take him to a good tailor.”
Canon Spratte would much have liked to inspect Mrs. Railing and her daughter, but feared to excite Winnie’s suspicion. He contented himself with urging Bertram to take her to Peckham; and when he made the suggestion, watched the youth keenly for signs of disinclination to produce his people. He saw nothing.
“I can’t make out if the boy is simple or crafty,” he said to himself irritably.
It never struck him that Railing could have so great an affection for his mother as to be indifferent to her defects.
“She’s done everything for me,” he told Winnie, when they were in the train, on their way to visit her. “My father died when I was a lad, and it’s only by her strength of will and sheer hard work that I’ve done anything at all.”