He had not the most remote idea of what was coming.
"You have doubtless noticed," Colonel Holliday went on, "the frequency of Sir William Brownlow's visits here ?" "Yes, sir, I have noticed that, but I do not often see him.

I keep out of his way, for in truth I like him not, nor that son of his, who, on the strength of his three years' seniority, looks down upon me, and gives himself as many airs as madam my mother's peacock." "And you have never even thought why he comes here so frequently ?" "No, sir," Rupert said, surprised; "it was no business of mine, and I gave no single thought to it." "He is a suitor for your lady mother's hand," Colonel Holliday said, gravely.
"What!" almost shouted Rupert; "What, sir! He, with his sneering face, dares to think--" "My dear boy, he not only dares to think, but madam approves of the thought, and has promised him her hand." Rupert stood motionless.
"It shall not be," he burst out.

"We must stop it, sir.

Why do not you ?" "I have no shadow of authority over Mistress Holliday," the old colonel said.

"As far as I could go, for your sake I have gone--farther, perhaps, than was wise.