Meeting— all thinking of Mr Grandcourt! And they have not a shadow of a chance."
Mrs Davilow had not presence of mind to answer immediately, and Gwendolen turned quickly round towards her saying, wickedly—
"Now you know they have not, mamma. You and my uncle and aunt—you all intend him to fall in love with me."
Mrs Davilow, piqued into a little stratagem, said, "Oh, my dear, that is not so certain. Miss Arrowpoint has charms which you have not."
"I know. But they demand thought. My arrow will pierce him before he has time for thought. He will declare himself my slave—I shall send him round the world to bring me back the wedding-ring of a happy woman—in the mean time all the men who are between him and the title will die of different diseases—he will come back Lord Grandcourt—but without the ring—and fall at my feet. I shall laugh at him—he will rise in resentment—I shall laugh more—he will call for his steed and ride to Quetcham, where he will find Miss Arrowpoint just married to a needy musician, Mrs Arrowpoint tearing her cap off, and Mr Arrowpoint standing by. Exit Lord Grandcourt, who returns to Diplow, and, like M. Jabot, change de linge."
