o
be caught with so small a grain of salt as that! He had not as yet seen
Mr. Patmore Green, having escaped from London at once. He had answered
a note from Olivia, which had called him "dearest Charlie" by a counter
note, in which he had called her "dear O," and had signed himself "ever
yours, G," promising to meet her up the river. But of course he had not
gone up the river! The rest of the season might certainly be done
without assistance from him. He knew that he would be pursued. He could
not hope not to be pursued. But he had not thought that Mrs. Montacute
Jones would be so quick upon him. It was impossible that H.R.H should
have heard of any engagement as yet. What a nasty, false, wicked old
woman she was! He blushed, red as a rose, and stammered out that he
"didn't know." He was only four-and-twenty, and perhaps he didn't know.

"I never saw a girl so much in love in my life," continued Mrs. Jones.
"I know her just as well as if she were my own, and she speaks to me as
she doesn't dare to speak to you at present. Though she is barely
twenty-one, she has been very much sought after already, and the very
day she marries she has ten thousand pounds in her own hands. That
isn't a large fortune, and of course you don't want a large fortune,
but it isn't every girl can pay such a sum straight into her husband's
bank the moment she marries!"

"No, indeed," said Lord Giblet. He was still determined that nothing
should induce him to marry Miss Green; but nevertheless, behind that
resolution there was a feeling, that if anything should bring about the
marriage, such a sum of ready money would be a consolation. His father,
the Earl of Jopling, though a very rich man, kept him a little close,
and ten thousand pounds would be nice. But then, perhaps the old woman
was lying.

"Now I'll tell you what I want you to do," said Mrs. Jones, who was
resolved that if the game were not landed it should not be her fault.
"We go from here to Killancodlem next week. You must come and join
us."

"I've got to go and grouse at Stranbracket's," said Lord Giblet, happy
in an excuse.

"It couldn't be better. They're both within eight miles of Dunkeld." If
so, then ropes shouldn't take him to Stranbracket's that year. "Of
course you'll come. It's the prettiest place in Perth, though I say it,
as oughtn't. And she will be there. If you really want to know a girl,
see her in a country house."

But he didn't really want to know the girl.