But Lady Niton
was the dragon in the path. She had all sorts of ambitious projects for
him, none of which, according to Forbes, ever came off, there being
always some better fellow to be had. Diplomacy, in her eyes, was the
natural sphere of a young man of parts and family, and as for the money,
if he would only show the smallest signs of getting on, she would find
it. But in the service of his country Bobbie showed no signs whatever of
"getting on." He hinted uncomfortably, in his conversations with Diana,
at the long list of his obligations to Lady Niton--money lent, influence
exerted, services of many kinds--spread over four or five years, ever
since, after a chance meeting in a country-house, she had appointed
herself his earthly, providence, and he--an orphan of good family, with
a small income and extravagant tastes--had weakly accepted her bounties.
"Now, of course, she insists on my marrying somebody with money. As if
any chaperon would look at me! Two years ago I did make up to a nice
girl--a real nice girl--and only a thousand a year!--nothing so
tremendous, after all. But her mother twice carried her off, in the
middle of a rattling ball, because she had engaged herself to me--just
like sending a naughty child to bed! And the next time the mother made
me take _her_ down to supper, and expounded to me her view of a
chaperon's duties: 'My business, Mr.
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