"If I marry an interesting woman I shall be interested: is that
what you say?" Lord Warburton asked. "I'm not at all keen about
marrying--your son misrepresented me; but there's no knowing what
an interesting woman might do with me."

"I should like to see your idea of an interesting woman," said
his friend.

"My dear fellow, you can't see ideas--especially such highly
ethereal ones as mine. If I could only see it myself--that would
be a great step in advance."

"Well, you may fall in love with whomsoever you please; but you
mustn't fall in love with my niece," said the old man.

His son broke into a laugh. "He'll think you mean that as a
provocation! My dear father, you've lived with the English for
thirty years, and you've picked up a good many of the things they
say. But you've never learned the things they don't say!"

"I say what I please," the old man returned with all his
serenity.

"I haven't the honour of knowing your niece," Lord Warburton
said. "I think it's the first time I've heard of her."

"She's a niece of my wife's; Mrs. Touchett brings her to
England."