He then succeeded to the earldom.

随后继承了伯爵爵位。

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

有人向伯爵爵位，但拒绝了，理是的地位高于 92 岁的。

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.

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