"You had better say nothing about it." "I had told him as much already, on general grounds," said the Baroness.
"But in this country, you know, the relations of young people are so extraordinary that one is quite at sea.

They are not engaged when you would quite say they ought to be.

Take Charlotte Wentworth, for instance, and that young ecclesiastic.

If I were her father I should insist upon his marrying her; but it appears to be thought there is no urgency.

On the other hand, you suddenly learn that a boy of twenty and a little girl who is still with her governess--your sister has no governess?
Well, then, who is never away from her mamma--a young couple, in short, between whom you have noticed nothing beyond an exchange of the childish pleasantries characteristic of their age, are on the point of setting up as man and wife." The Baroness spoke with a certain exaggerated volubility which was in contrast with the languid grace that had characterized her manner before Clifford made his appearance.