“Don't delude yourself, my dear aunt,” he cried. “Mrs. Calverley would like very much to be Lady Courland, I feel quite sure. She may tell you otherwise. But it is so. She is an ambitious woman.”
“What is to be done?” exclaimed Lady Thicknesse, in consternation.
“We must gain time. I have prevented him from calling here to-day.”
“How did you manage that?”
“By telling him I wanted to ask Charles a few questions. Meantime, you must speak to Emmeline.”
“But I very much fear she won't mind me,” said Lady Thicknesse. “I'll get Sir Bridgnorth to do it.”
“He's the very man for the purpose; and, fortunately, he's in the house. I left him just now with the ladies.”
“Then beg him to come to me,” said Lady Thicknesse.
Scrope needed no second bidding, but immediately quitted the boudoir, and reappeared a few minutes afterwards with the good-natured baronet.
“I won't interrupt the tête-à-tête which her ladyship wishes to have with you, Sir Bridgnorth,” said Scrope as he left them together.