The epithet 'unbred' was accredited upon the quoted sayings and doings of the pretentious young person's aunt, repeated abroad by noblemen and gentlemen present when she committed herself; and the same were absurd.

They carried a laugh, and so they lived and circulated.

Lord Ormont submitted to the infliction of that horrid female in his household! It was no wonder he stopped short of allying himself with the family.
Nor was it a wonder that the naturally enamoured old warrior or invalided Mars (for she had the gift of beauty) should deem it prudent to be out of England when she and her crazy friends determined on the audacious move.

Or put it the other way--for it is just as confounding right side or left--she and her friends take advantage of his absence to make the clever push for an establishment, and socially force him to legalize their union on his return.

The deeds of the preceding reign had bequeathed a sort of legendary credence to the wildest tales gossip could invent under a demurrer.
But there was the fact, the earl was away.