The General murmured in confusion, ‘Dear me!’ and looked at the young man, thinking that he could not have known the time.

‘Is all arranged, my dear General?’

’Nothing is arranged, and I beg—­I say I beg . . .  I came out for fresh air and pace.’..

The General rode frantically.

In spite of the fresh air, he was unable to eat at breakfast.  He was bound, of course, to present himself to Lady Camper, in common civility, immediately after it.

And first, what were the phrases he had to avoid uttering in her presence?  He could remember only the ‘gentlemanly residence.’  And it was a gentlemanly residence, he thought as he took leave of it.  It was one, neatly named to fit the place.  Lady Camper is indeed a most eccentric person! he decided from his experience of her.

He was rather astonished that young Rolles should have spoken so coolly of his aunt’s leaning to matrimony; but perhaps her exact age was unknown to the younger members of her family.

This idea refreshed him by suggesting the extremely honourable nature of Lady Camper’s uncomfortable confession.

He himself had an uncomfortable confession to make.  He would have to speak of his income.  He was living up to the edges of it.

She is an upright woman, and I must be the same! he said, fortunately not in her hearing.

The subject was disagreeable to a man sensitive on the topic of money, and feeling that his prudence had recently been misled to keep up appearances.

Lady Camper was in her garden, reclining under her parasol.  A chair was beside her, to which, acknowledging the salutation of her suitor, she waved him.

‘You have met my nephew Reginald this morning, General?’

’Curiously, in the park, this morning, before breakfast, I did, yes.  Hem!  I, I say I did meet him.  Has your ladyship seen him?’

‘No.  The park is very pretty in the early morning.’

‘Sweetly pretty.’

Lady Camper raised her head, and with the mildness of assured dictatorship, pronounced:  ‘Never say that before me.’

‘I submit, my lady,’ said the poor scourged man.

’Why, naturally you do.  Vulgar phrases have to be endured, except when our intimates are guilty, and then we are not merely offended, we are compromised by them.  You are still of the mind in which you left me yesterday?  You are one day older.  But I warn you, so am I.’

’Yes, my lady, we cannot, I say we cannot check time.  Decidedly of the same mind.  Quite so.’

’Oblige me by never saying “Quite so.”  My lawyer says it.  It reeks of the City of London.  And do not look so miserable.’

‘I, madam? my dear lady!’ the General flashed out in a radiance that dulled instantly.

‘Well,’ said she cheerfully, ‘and you’re for the old woman?’

‘For Lady Camper.’

’You are seductive in your flatteries, General.  Well, then, we have to speak of business.’