'"Did you promise you would not?" demanded Algernon. "No? Then tell me directly."
'And Agnes, who, as I found out afterwards, always did what everybody asked her, said: "It was only that I chanced to be in the room when my aunt was talking to Father Freeling about you, and she said, 'My husband has arranged a match for Algernon, which will put all these unfortunate money matters straight again. The young lady will have an ample fortune when she comes of age; and, what is better still, her father has undertaken to pay down, on her wedding day, a sum sufficient to clear off all those mortgages (wasn't that the word you meant, Algernon?) which Sir Harry's imprudent management rendered necessary.' 'Indeed!' Father Freeling said, 'I think Sir Harry has managed excellently well for the interests of his ward; and I suppose, on the lady's side, the title is considered'—I couldn't quite hear what; for just then my sampler frame dropped down, which I think reminded my aunt that I was in the room, for she spoke in a much lower tone after that, and I could only hear something about 'political considerations,' and the vote of Sir Harry being required for some 'parliamentary bill,' and so on. I could not quite understand what they meant, but I could see they thought you would be much richer for marrying Frances; so perhaps you will be able to go and live at your old home again. You would like that, Algernon?"
'"And we will all come and stay with you," cried Oliver, rather louder than prudence warranted; for we had been talking hitherto almost in whispers, in order to avoid the attention of our elders. I looked at Algernon to see what he thought of this proposal. He looked rather grave and puzzled; I think he understood a little better than we did the meaning of all those long words which Agnes had repeated so accurately, and which conveyed no idea to my mind at all, except that Agnes thought I was very rich; which struck me as being decidedly curious—my ideas of riches in those days being limited to the amount of money I had in an old china cup up-stairs in the nursery. I was just going to say that I had only at present one silver piece there, when the stiff rustle of Lady Mountfort's gown was heard approaching, and we all sank into silence. I should most probably have forgotten all about this conversation, so little did I understand the meaning of Agnes's words, had not Algernon much later in the evening said to me in a low voice:
'"Perhaps, Frances, you had better not talk about what Agnes told us to any one. She was not intended to hear it; and—and—somehow I fancy that your father and my guardian would not be over-pleased if we said anything about it."
'"Very well, I will not," I replied, wondering very much what part of Agnes's communication it could be which was likely to make the good-humoured Sir Harry angry.
'"You can keep a secret, I suppose?" said Algernon, surveying me, as I thought, rather contemptuously.
'"Of course," said I in an offended tone; "I keep all Oliver's. But" (my curiosity here becoming too much for my dignity) "I wish you would tell me why."
'"I can't," replied Algernon, "for I don't quite know myself; but I shall find out some day all about what they were saying. I wish I had heard it before; it has something to do with the reason you and I were married,—that is quite clear."
'"When you are grown-up, you will understand, I suppose," said I.
'"O yes; long before that."