"
"Who's she?" exclaimed Mary somewhat quickly.
His lordship explained the position. The family estates were
heavily encumbered. It was deemed advisable that his lordship
should marry Money, and Money, in the person of the only daughter
of rich and ambitious parvenus, had offered itself--or, to speak
more correctly, had been offered.
"What's she like?" asked Mary.
"Oh, she's nice enough," was the reply, "only I don't care for her
and she doesn't care for me. It won't be much fun for either of
us," and his lordship laughed dismally.
"How do you know she doesn't care for you?" asked Mary. A woman
may be critical of her lover's shortcomings, but at the very least
he is good enough for every other woman.
"Well, she happens to care for somebody else," answered his
lordship, "she told me so herself."
That would account for it.
"And is she willing to marry you?" inquired Mary.
His lordship shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, well, you know, her people want it," he replied.
In spite of her trouble, the girl could not help a laugh. These
young swells seemed to have but small wills of their own. Her
ladyship, on the other side of the door, grew nervous.
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