"About thirty. Good-looking chap too. It'd be a good match for both of them. There'd be his title against her money. But there it is. He hasn't got a chance. I'm not sorry for it myself, as I've an idea of nobbling him for Vera. She's getting on--twenty-two next birthday, and it's time she was settled. I'm going to get my people to ask him down at Easter, when I shall be at home and can look after things. I hope it will all be settled with your Governor by that time." "I don't think Barbara knows it has gone as far as that," said Young George reflectively. "She only says she thinks it may happen, though Caroline doesn't. She won't be pleased when I tell her what you've told me." "Why not?" "Oh, well, I suppose she wouldn't be. Now Caroline and B are married she wants to be Number One with the Governor." "Poor little girl!" said Jimmy tenderly. "I call that rather touching, you know, George. We ought to try and make it up to her, if it does happen--not let her feel herself out of it. I'm sure I'll do all I can to show her that she's still thought a great deal of." "I'm sure you will," said Young George. "But you won't find she'll want much of you if she can have the Governor." "That sort of feeling changes when girls grow up," said Jimmy. "Their Governors don't stand much of a chance when the right chap comes along. I will say for your Governor, though, that he knows how to make himself pleasant to younger people, men as well as girls. There's nobody of his age I like better to have a yarn with. I'm not a bit surprised at a woman like Mrs. Carruthers falling in love with him." "You think it would be a good thing, then?" "A good thing? Of course it would be a good thing. Don't you think so yourself?" "Oh, I don't know. I like her all right. Rather rum to have her as a sort of mother, though." "Nobody thinks anything of that now-a-days. She'd be more like a sort of sister. I must say _I_ shouldn't mind having her about the place, if it was me. She's a very fine woman. I spotted her three seasons ago, when she first began to hunt again after Carruthers died. If I hadn't felt myself a bit tied up with Kate Pemberton then, I think I might have tried to make myself pleasant to her. Well, I always have made myself pleasant to her. I think she likes me all right. If she marries your Governor we shall be pretty near neighbours." "Well, I hope _you_ won't try to cut him out, if he wants to marry her. I don't quite know what to think about it. I shall tell Barbara that it would be a good thing." "Yes, I should, if I were you. And you can tell her that I'm all in favour of it, as she has asked what I think." "Thanks, I will," said Young George. "That ought to settle her mind, if anything can. I say, I haven't told you. B's going to have a baby."