These reflections enabled him at length to encounter his brother
with temper, and to find that, after all, it had been more like the
declaration of an intended siege than an actual summons to surrender.
Lord Keith was a less foolish and more courteous man than might have
been gathered from poor Fanny's terrified account; and all he had done
was to intimate his intention of recommending himself to her, and the
view with which he had placed himself at Avonmouth; nor was he in the
slightest degree disconcerted by her vehemence, but rather entertained
by it, accepting her faithfulness to her first husband's memory as the
best augury of her affection for a second. He did not even own that he
had been precipitate.
"Let her get accustomed to the idea," he said with a shrewd smile. "The
very outcry she makes against it will be all in my favour when the turn
comes."
"I doubt whether you will find it so."
"All the world does not live on romance like you, man. Look on, and
you will see that a pretty young widow like her cannot fail to get into
scrapes; have offers made to her, or at least the credit of them. I'd
lay you ten pounds that you are said to be engaged to her yourself by
this time, and it is no one's fault but your own that you are not. It is
in the very nature of things that she will be driven to shelter herself
from the persecution, with whoever has bided his time."
"Oh, if you prefer being accepted on such terms--"
He smiled, as if the romance of the exclamation were beneath contempt,
and proceeded--"A pretty, gracious, ladylike woman, who has seen enough
of the world to know how to take her place, and yet will be content with
a quiet home. It is an introduction I thank you for, Colin."
"And pray," said Colin, the more inwardly nettled because he knew that
his elder brother enjoyed his annoyance, "what do you think of those
seven slight encumbrances?"
"Oh, they are your charge," returned Lord Keith, with a twinkle in his
eye. "Besides, most of them are lads, and what with school, sea, and
India, they will be easily disposed of."
"Certainly it has been so in our family," said Colin, rather hoarsely,
as he thought of the four goodly brothers who had once risen in steps
between him and the Master.
"And," added Lord Keith, still without direct answer, "she is so
handsomely provided for, that you see, Colin, I could afford to give you
up the Auchinvar property, that should have been poor Archie's, and what
with the farms and the moor, it would bring you in towards three hundred
a year for your housekeeping."