"What an extraordinary-looking place!"
"You will say so, Countess, when you get on shore," said Lord
Lydstone.
"Is there anything really to see?" she asked. "Is it worth the trouble
of landing?"
"Why, of course! I thought it was all settled. The general sent some
hours ago to say he proposed to pay his respect to the Governor. You
cannot help yourself now."
"Oh! the general," remarked Mrs. Wilders, as she was generally
styled--the title Countess was only used by intimate friends--in a
tone that implied she was not at all bound by her husband's plans.
"Where is the good man just now?" inquired Lord Lydstone, in much the
same tone.
"There, forward," said Mrs. Wilders, pointing to the part of the deck
beyond the awning. "Trying to get a sunstroke by walking about with
his head bare."
"He does that on principle, Countess, don't you know. He wants to
harden his cranium, in case he loses his hat some day in action."
"I hope he may never go into action. If he does, I should be sorry for
his men."
"Not for him?"
"That may be taken for granted," she replied, in a matter-of-fact way.
"How fond you are of him! What devoted affection! It's lucky you have
little to spare!"
"I keep it for the proper person."
"Is there none for his relatives?" asked Lydstone, with a meaning
look.
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