"The Lady Fanny I met here?"
"Yes. You know she is Lord Milborough's sister. Do you remember the
clergyman, Mr Elliot, who was also here?"
"Yes. I thought--perhaps--?"
Millie laughed.
"It is wonderful, but true. He is the last man I should have suspected
Fanny would have chosen. But do not speak of it, for nothing is settled
yet, and Lord Milborough will not say anything definitely."
"He can stop it?"
"Only for a year, but Fanny would hate to go against him."
He was willing enough to talk about Lord Milborough and Thorpe.
"So that, after all, it may come to nothing. Poor Mr Elliot!"
"No, no, there is no fear of that. Fanny will not change. She will be
quite independent when she is twenty-one. Indeed, she is in terror lest
Mr Elliot should find out how large her fortune will be."
"Is Lord Milborough like his sister in character?" asked Wareham
carelessly.