Accordingly, he wrote to Mrs. Calverley, as we have explained.
Sir Bridgnorth had never been in Ouselcroft before, and after a few observations on the beauty of the grounds, he said:
“You will, no doubt, have conjectured why I have done myself the honour of waiting upon you, ma'am?”
Mrs. Calverley slightly moved.
“You have a very lovely step-daughter. It is not necessary for me to launch into her praises; but I may say I have only seen one person in the course of my life who has charmed me so much. That person would have been my wife had she not jilted me and wedded another. Miss Calverley shall be Lady Charlton if she will accept me.
“You do us great honour, Sir Bridgnorth!” observed Mrs. Calverley.
“I don't know whether I am right, ma'am,” he pursued; “but I prefer making this offer through you, instead of direct to the young lady, as you can put an end to the affair at once, if you think proper. I needn't enter into any particulars. You know my position; you know what sort of place I have got you know I can make a good settlement on my wife, as well as give her a title. The main question is—will Miss Calverley have me? Is she wholly free? for I would not, for the world, interfere with any other engagement. I have suffered too much myself not to be careful. I am not foolish enough to persuade myself she can love me; but I believe I could make her a very good husband, and hope she would be happy. I am quite sure she would be indulged.”
He said this with an honest, manly sincerity, that produced a strong effect upon Mrs. Calverley.
In a voice of some emotion, she remarked, “My own husband, as I needn't tell you, Sir Bridgnorth, was considerably older than myself, and no one could be happier than I was with him.”
“You encourage me to hope, madam, that the disparity of years may not prove an objection. Supposing the young lady to be entirely disengaged, may I be permitted to see her?”