“You'd better hear mine first,” remarked Lady Thicknesse. “But tell me what you meant by bidding Miss Calverley 'not to mind you,' and adding 'she knew very well you are out of the question?' That is an ambiguous phrase.”
“It is intelligible enough to Mildred, my dear aunt, and only means that I have no idea of marrying at present.”
“But how came you to form such a silly resolution?”
“You mustn't ask me, my dear aunt,”
“Not now; but at some more suitable time I shall think it my duty to require an explanation.”
Rather fortunately, the discourse was interrupted just at that moment by Chetwynd, who was ushered into the room by Higgins.
Lady Thicknesse had never seen him before, and was very much struck by his appearance. She had no idea he was so handsome, and a suspicion of the truth then crossed her.
Could he be engaged to Emmeline? But she dismissed the notion as soon as formed.
She had been prejudiced against him by the accounts she had heard of his follies, extravagance, and impetuous temper; but his good looks and quiet deportment operated strongly in his favour, and he had not been in the room five minutes before she felt disposed to like him, and evinced her friendly feeling by asking him to dinner.
On his part, Chetwynd was very much pleased with her ladyship, and could not help smiling as he thought to himself what might have been the consequence if his original plan had been carried out.