'It was a good thing I did go, all the same. I'll tell you why when you
have told me what happened to you.'

'Nothing of importance happened to me.'

'I expect you got to know the lord you were to meet?'

'O yes--Lord Mountclere.'

'And it's dreadful how fond he is of you--quite ridiculously taken up
with you--I saw that well enough. Such an old man, too; I wouldn't have
him for the world!'

'Don't jump at conclusions so absurdly, Picotee. Why wouldn't you have
him for the world?'

'Because he is old enough to be my grandfather, and yours too.'

'Indeed he is not; he is only middle-aged.'

'O Berta! Sixty-five at least.'

'He may or may not be that; and if he is, it is not old. He is so
entertaining that one forgets all about age in connection with him.'

'He laughs like this--"Hee-hee-hee!"' Picotee introduced as much
antiquity into her face as she could by screwing it up and suiting the
action to the word.