Here，again，thereappearedtobesomethinginanameunknowntocelebrity，whichneverthelessproduceditseffect——not，thistime，onMissSilvester，butonSirPatrick。HelookedatMr。
Brinkworthwithasuddeninterestandcuriosity。Iftheladyofthehousehadnotclaimedhisattentionatthemomenthewouldevidentlyhavespokentothedarkyoungman。
ButitwasLadyLundie’sturntochooseasecondplayeronherside。Herbrother-in-lawwasapersonofsomeimportance；andshehadherownmotivesforingratiatingherselfwiththeheadofthefamily。ShesurprisedthewholecompanybychoosingSirPatrick。
“Mamma!“criedBlanche。“Whatcanyoubethinkingof？SirPatrickwon’tplay。Croquetwasn’tdiscoveredinhistime。“
SirPatrickneverallowed“histime“tobemadethesubjectofdisparagingremarksbytheyoungergenerationwithoutpayingtheyoungergenerationbackinitsowncoin。