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

他被授予伯，基于自己将超越92岁高龄父亲等级，他婉拒这一荣誉。

He then succeeded to the earldom.

随后他继承伯。

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，他可能会是。“我亲爱西莉亚，”太后说，“詹姆斯头衔比任何新伯都贵重。