They drift
into matrimony. But she will not spare him. It would be a national
triumph. All the States would sing a paean of glory. Fancy a New
York belle having compassed a Duke!'
'I don't think it possible. It would be too horrid.'
'I think it is quite possible. As for me, I could teach myself to
think it best as it is, were I not so sure that I should be better
for him than to many others. But I shouldn't love him.'
'Why not love him?'
'He is such a boy. I should always treat him like a boy,--spoiling
him and petting him, but never respecting him. Don't run away with
any idea that I should refuse him from conscientious motives, if
he were really to ask me. I too should like to be a Duchess. I
should like to bring all this misery at home to an end.'
'But you did refuse him.'
'Not exactly;--because he never asked me. For the moment I was
weak, and so I let have another chance. I shall not have been a
good friend to him if it ends in his marrying this Yankee.'
Lord Silverbridge went out of the house in a very ill humour,--
which however left him when in the course of the afternoon he
found himself up at Maidenhead with Miss Boncassen.
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