He was offered an earldom but refused on the basis that he would outrank his 92-year-old father.

他被授予伯爵爵位，但基于自己将超越92岁高龄的父亲的爵位等级，他荣誉。

He then succeeded to the earldom.

随后他继承伯爵爵位。

He might have been, if James had been an Earl." " My dear Celia, " said the Dowager, " James's title is worth far more than any new earldom.

如果詹姆斯是伯爵的话，他可能会是。“我亲爱的西莉亚，”太后说，“詹姆斯的头衔比任何新的伯爵爵位都贵重。