"My dear Cleve, don't you think that's rather an odd way of speaking of a young lady? People used not in my time--that is, when I was a young man of two or three-and-twenty, about it--to talk so of young ladies. It was not considered a thing that ought to be done. I--I never heard a word of the kind."
Lord Verney's chivalry had actually called a little pink flush to his old cheeks, and he looked very seriously still at the cornice, and tapped a little nervous tattoo with his pencil-case on the table as he did so.
"I really did not mean--I only meant--in fact, uncle, I tell _you_ everything; and poor Caroline is _so_ much older than I, it always struck me as amusing."
"Their man of business in matters of law is Mr. Larkington, about it. _Our_ man, you know--you know him."
"Oh, yes. They could not do better. Mr. Larkin--a very shrewd fellow. I went, by-the-by, to see that old man, Dingwell."
"Ah, well, very good. We'll talk of that by-and-by, if you please; but it has been occurring to my mind, Cleve, that--that you should look about you. In fact, if you don't like one young lady, you may like another. It strikes me I never saw a greater number of pretty young women, about it, than there are at present in town. I do assure you, at that ball--where was it?--the place I saw you, and sent you down to the division--don't you remember?--and next day, I told you, I think, they never said so much as 'I'm obliged to you' for what I had done, though it was the saving of them, about it. I say I was quite struck; the spectacle was quite charming, about it, from no other cause; and you know there is Ethel--I always said Ethel--and there _can_ be no objection there; and I have distinct reasons for wishing you to be well connected, about it--in a political sense--and there is no harm in a little _money_; and, in fact, I have made up my mind, my dear Cleve, it is indispensable, and you _must_ marry. I'm quite clear upon the point."
"I can promise you, my dear uncle, that I shan't marry without your approbation."
"Well, I rather took that for granted," observed Lord Verney, with dry solemnity.
"Of course. I only say it's very difficult sometimes to see what's wisest. I have you, I know, uncle, to direct me; but you must allow I have also your example. You relied entirely upon yourself for your political position. You made it without the aid of any such step, and I should be only too proud to follow your example."