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

有人向授予伯爵爵，拒绝了，理由是地高于 92 岁父亲。

He then succeeded to the earldom.

随后继承了伯爵爵。

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.

如果是伯爵话，可能会是。“我亲爱西莉亚，”太后说，“头衔比任何新伯爵爵都贵重。