On this Lily set up an outcry of horror.
'One comfort is, Lily,' said Lord Rotherwood, 'he does not mean it;
he did not say it from the bottom of his heart. Now, confess you did
not, Claude.'
Claude pretended to be asleep.
'I see plainly enough,' said the Marquis to Lily, 'it is as Wat
Greenwood says, "Mr. Reynold and the grapes."'
'But it is not,' said Lily, 'and that is what provokes me; papa says
he is quite welcome to go if he likes, and that he thinks it will do
him a great deal of good, but that foolish boy will say nothing but
"I will think about it," and "thank you"'
'Then I give him up as regularly dense.'
'It is the most delightful plan ever thought of,' said Lily, 'so
easily done, and just bringing within his compass all he ever wished
to see.'
'Oh! his sole ambition is to stretch those long legs of his on the
grass, like a great vegetable marrow,' said Lord Rotherwood. 'It is
vegetating like a plant that makes him so much taller than any
rational creature with a little animal life.'
'I think Jane has his share of curiosity,' said Lily, 'I am sure I
had no idea that anything belonging to us could be so stupid.'
'Well,' said the Marquis, 'I shall not go.
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