This was a terrible blow to Lord Fawn,
and had come no doubt from a general agreement among the Eustace faction--
including the bishop, John Eustace, and even Mr. Camperdown--that it would
be a good thing to get the widow married and placed under some decent
control.
Lady Glencora absolutely had the effrontery to ask him whether the
marriage was not going to take place, and when a day would be fixed. He
gathered up his courage to give her ladyship a rebuke. "My private affairs
do seem to be uncommonly interesting," he said.
"Why, yes, Lord Fawn," said Lady Glencora, whom nothing could abash, "most
interesting. You see, dear Lady Eustace is so very popular that we all
want to know what is to be her fate."
"I regret to say that I cannot answer your ladyship's question with any
precision," said Lord Fawn.
But the Hittaway persecution was by far the worst. "You have seen her,
Frederic," said his sister.
"Yes, I have."
"You have made her no promise?"
"My dear Clara, this is a matter in which I must use my own judgment."
"But the family, Frederic?"
"I do not think that any member of our family has a just right to complain
of my conduct since I have had the honour of being its head.
Pages:
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017