Part 33 (2/2)
Pip looked. He saw a pair of bold black eyes, a very red and entrancing mouth, a _retrousse_ nose, an alluringly dimpled chin, and a good deal of glinting coppery hair. Individually these features were distinctly attractive, but there was something about the _tout ensemble_ that supplied an immediate answer to the owner's extremely frank question.
”You'll know me again,” said Miss Lottingar, rather faintly.
”Beg your pardon,” said Pip, ungluing his gaze with a jerk. ”Bad habit I've got. Yes, perhaps he will object.”
”I should think so. 'Fast girl--shady father--with all their goods in the shop window!' That's what the old man will see, if he's the least bit less of a fool than his son.”
”But,” said Pip, ”won't he consent if he sees that you really--care for each other?”
”Afraid he won't see that,” said Miss Lottingar composedly.
Pip stared.
”You mean you don't really care for Fitznorton at all?” he said.
”My dear boy, have you _seen_ him?” inquired Lottie plaintively.
”Yes. But--why on earth are you going to marry him?”
”I'm not quite certain that I am,” said the Princ.i.p.al Boy coolly.
”But you said you were.”
”I said I was engaged to him.”
”Sorry! I had an idea it was the same thing,” said Pip.
Lottie gazed at him, not without a certain admiration.
”Not quite,” she said. ”You're a simple old chap, Jack, but I like you for it; so I'll tell you what we are going to do. When the Earl comes down here--the day after to-morrow, I expect--Dad and I will interview him. Fitz won't be there: I shall send him out into the woods to chase rabbits. Then we shall point out to the old dear that if the engagement is not permitted my heart will be broken.”
”Oh!”
”You see?”
”I begin to. What will it cost to repair it?”
”A hundred thousand pounds.”
”You value your heart at rather a high figure.”
”He can afford the money: it's a mere fleabite to him. He is one of the richest men in England.”
”Well?”
”If he agrees, I sign a paper renouncing all claim to Fitz. The Earl writes a cheque, takes Fitz home in a bandbox, and Dad is on his legs again. That's all.”
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