Mr. Glentworth felt inclined to interrupt her with "your ladyship's, do you not mean?" but he refrained, and she proceeded.
"Mr. Granard's imprudence having left his children completely unprovided for, their marriage is of the utmost consequence. Will you pardon me for observing that your acquaintance, otherwise so fortunate, and so agreeable, will, I fear, be an obstacle to my natural expectations on that point."
Mr. Glentworth looked what he was, amazed, and Lady Anne went on.
"You are not a marrying man," this was said with some still lurking hope that it might bring from him a declaration completely the reverse of her own, but it was heard in acquiescing silence. "Now every body," continued Lady Anne, "is not aware of this fact, and your being so constantly seen with my girls leads to the supposition that you must be attracted by one or other of them. I am constantly being asked which of the Misses Granard is to be Mrs. Glentworth?"
"Gossiping nonsense," exclaimed the gentleman; "why can you not at once say that I am one of their father's oldest friends, and that I am anxious to show his children some portion of the kindness which he showed me."
"People are not easily," replied Lady Anne, "persuaded to believe what is improbable."
