Nell looked at him doubtfully, for there was a kind of sarcasm in his
voice. But she took up the parable.
"'Lord Selbie is, in consequence of this marriage of his uncle, the
object of profound and general sympathy; for, as the readers must be
aware, he is a persona grata in society----' What is a persona grata?"
Nell broke off to inquire.
"Lord knows!" replied Mr. Vernon grimly. "I don't suppose the bounder
who wrote these things does."
Mrs. Lorton simpered.
"It's Italian, and it means that he is very popular, a general
favorite."
"Then why don't they say so?" asked Nell, in a patiently disgusted
fashion. "'Is a persona grata in society. He is strikingly
handsome----'"
Mr. Vernon's lips curved with something between a grin and a sneer.
--"'And of the most charming manners.'"
"Who writes this kind of rot?" he muttered.
"'Since his first appearance in the circles of the London elite, Lord
Selbie has been the cynosure of all eyes. To quote Hamlet again, he may
truthfully be described as the "glass of fashion and the mould of form."
His lordship is also a good all-round sportsman. He spent two or three
years traveling in the Rockies and in Africa, and his exploits with the
big game in both countries are well known. Like most young men of his
class, Lord Selbie was rather wild at Oxford, and displayed a certain
amount of diablerie in London during his quite early manhood. He is a
splendid whip, and his four-in-hand was eclipsed by none other in the
club. Lord Selbie is also an admirable horseman, and has won several
cups in regimental races.' "That is the end of that paragraph," said Nell, stifling a yawn, and
glancing longingly through the window at the sea dancing in the
sunlight. "Do you want any more?"
"Is there any?" asked Mr. Vernon grimly. "If so, we'd better have it,
perhaps."
"Certainly," said Mrs. Lorton. "If there is anything I dislike more than
another, it is incomplete information. Go on Eleanor."
Nell sighed and took up the precious paper again.
"'As is well known'--they always say that, because it flatters the
readers, I suppose," she went on parenthetically--"'Lord Selbie is a
"Lord" in consequence of his father, Mr. Herbert Selbie, the famous
diplomatist, having been created a viscount; but, though he bears this
title, we fancy Lord Selbie cannot be well off. The kind of life he has
led since his advent in society must have strained his resources to the
utmost, and we should not be far wrong if we described him as a poor
man. This marriage of his uncle, the Earl of Angleford, must, therefore,
be a serious blow to him, and may cause his complete retirement from the
circles of _ton_ in which he has shone so brilliantly. Lord Selbie, as
we stated last week, is engaged to the daughter of Lord Turfleigh.'"