'You have heard,' he said, 'what our
friends wish.' She had pouted her lips, and when gently pressed
had at last muttered, with her shoulder turned to him, that she
supposed it was to be so. Very much more coercion had been used to
her than either himself or Lady Cantrip had dared to apply to his
daughter. He did not think that his girl in her present condition
of mind would signify to Lord Popplecourt that she 'supposed it
was to be so'. Now that the time for the transaction was present
he felt almost sure that it would never be transacted. But still
he must go on with it. Were he now to abandon his scheme, would it
not be tantamount to abandoning everything? So he wreathed his
face in smiles,--or made some attempt at it,--as he greeted the
young man.
'I hope you and Lady Mary had a pleasant journey abroad,' said
Lord Popplecourt. Lord Popplecourt being aware that he had been
chosen as a son-in-law felt himself called upon to be familiar as
well as pleasant. 'I often thought of you and Lady Mary, and
wondered what you were about.'
'We were visiting lakes and mountains, churches and picture
galleries, cities, and salt mines,' said the Duke.
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