How could he, indeed, seeing that his troth was already plighted to Mary Thorne in the presence of his sister?
This circumstance, however, he did not choose to plead to his aunt, so he recapitulated any other objections that presented themselves to his mind.
In the first place, he was so anxious about his degree that he could not think of marrying at present; then he suggested that it might be better to postpone the question till the season's hunting should be over; he declared that he could not visit Courcy Castle till he got a new suit of clothes home from the tailor; and ultimately remembered that he had a particular engagement to go fly-fishing with Mr Oriel on that day week.
None, however, of these valid reasons were sufficiently potent to turn the countess from her point.
"Nonsense, Frank," said she, "I wonder that you can talk of fly-fishing when the property of Greshamsbury is at stake.

You will go with Augusta and myself to Courcy Castle to-morrow." "To-morrow, aunt!" he said, in the tone in which a condemned criminal might make his ejaculation on hearing that a very near day had been named for his execution.

"To-morrow!" "Yes, we return to-morrow, and shall be happy to have your company.
My friends, including Miss Dunstable, come on Thursday.

I am quite sure you will like Miss Dunstable.

I have settled all that with your mother, so we need say nothing further about it.