‘Well then!’

’I have to examine myself, and find whether I am guilty of the meanness which I might perhaps be too ready to impute to another.  I have done so, and I am quite sure that I am not drawn to your sister by any desire for her money.  I did not seek her because she was a rich man’s daughter, nor,—­because she is a rich man’s daughter will I give her up.  Nothing but a word from her shall induce me to leave her;—­but a word from her, if it comes from her own lips,—­shall do so.’  Then he took his friend’s hand in his, and having grasped it, walked away without saying another word.

CHAPTER 31

Miss Boncassen’s River-Party No. 1

Thrice within the next three weeks did Lord Silverbridge go forth to ask Mabel to be his wife, but thrice in vain.  On one occasion she would talk on other things.  On the second Miss Cassewary would not leave her.  On the third the conversation turned in a very disagreeable way on Miss Boncassen, as to whom Lord Silverbridge could not but think that Lady Mabel said some very ill-natured things.  It was no doubt true that he, during the last three weeks, had often been in Miss Boncassen’s company, that he had danced with her, ridden with her, taken her to the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and was now engaged to attend upon her at a river-party up above Maidenhead.  But Mabel had certainly no right to complain.  Had he not thrice during the same period come there to lay the coronet at her feet;—­and now, at this very moment, was it not her fault that he was not going through the ceremony?

‘I suppose,’ she said, laughing, ‘that it is all settled.’

‘What is all settled?’

‘About you and the American beauty.’

‘I am not aware that anything in particular has been settled.’

‘Then it ought to be,—­oughtn’t it?  For her sake, I mean.’

‘That is so like an English woman,’ said Lord Silverbridge.  ’Because you cannot understand a manner of life a little different from your own you will impute evil.’

’I have imputed no evil, Lord Silverbridge, and you have no right to say so.’

‘If you mean to assert,’ said Miss Cass, ’that the manners of American young ladies are freer than those of English young ladies, it is you that are taking away their characters.’

‘I don’t say it would be at all bad,’ continued Lady Mabel.  ’She is a beautiful girl, and very clever, and would make a charming Duchess.  And then it would be such a delicious change to have an American Duchess.’

‘She wouldn’t be a Duchess.’

’Well, Countess, with Duchessship before her in the remote future.  Wouldn’t it be a change, Miss Cass?’

‘Oh decidedly!’ said Miss Cass.

’And very much for the better.  Quite a case of new blood, you know.  Pray don’t suppose that I mean to object.  Everybody who talks about it approves.  I haven’t heard a single dissentient voice.  Only as it has gone so far, and English people are too stupid you know to understand all these new ways,—­don’t you think perhaps—?’