Mr. Beekman had returned to his chair by the table, where he sat fidgeting with the will, which he took up, unfolded, and refolded.
"Am I then to understand," he inquired cautiously, "that your grandson's affections are already fixed on,—did I understand the name aright?—Miss Clara Frost?"
"Clara! Heaven forbid!" cried Mrs. Van Voorst, bristling. "Why should you suggest such a thing, Mr. Beekman? Clara, indeed!"
Miss Sabrina now came forward.
"We have always expected our dear boy to marry some amiable and Christian young woman," she said guardedly. "I should like to ask a few questions about Miss Fairlie."
It was evident to Mr. Beekman that the scales had flown up on Clara's side. Ethel Fairlie was at present the weighty consideration. Much as he would have liked to overwhelm them with some thundering counterstroke, he could only answer the questions now put forth, each of which elicited a sparkle in Oliver's eyes and a curiously innocent smirk.
"The fellow gloats over the idea; he is smacking his lips," Mr. Beekman said to himself with ineffective rage. Perhaps he did try to interfuse into his account of Ethel some little suggestion of warning. If she were the prettiest girl he had ever seen in his life, still, her beauty was not equal to her wit; if she were warm-hearted and affectionate, still, there was a touch of temper, just the mustard in the salad, the pepper in the stew. He was glad to see the effect the information had upon the ladies. As to Oliver, he sat all the time smiling more and more broadly.
"I do not venture to promise," Mr. Beekman continued, "that if these two young people were to make up their minds to marry, your grandson would have the most obedient of wives, Mrs. Van Voorst, but perhaps the house on Madison Avenue with enough money to keep it up is some consideration."
As he said this he looked from one to the other of the group, and saw behind a variety of expressions the same meaning. The glittering bait was to be swallowed whole. Even Miss Sabrina was impelled to say, "Perhaps with good influences and with a sincere affection for our dear boy, the young woman"
Mr. Beekman rose. He would endure it no longer.
"One thing I must say," he observed drily, "if the young fellow should fall in love with Miss Fairlie, as he could hardly help doing if he has a drop of blood in his veins, the question would still remain of her accepting him."
Mrs. Van Voorst raised both hands.
"What! give up the chance for such a property!"
