"Sutton thinks the elm in the back garden ought to come down. I have refused consent for the present."
"No; but I mean about Harry and Hermione. Do you know of anything? Something is wrong, I am sure. He is not like himself."
Mr. Fitzalan debated what to say, standing by the table, and opening a note which he found there. He had a wish that Marjory should be unconscious when the two girls first met. But he knew that she must hear soon of what had occurred, certainly from little Mittie, if from no other quarter. He read his note slowly, and Marjory lay with her eyes fixed upon him.
"If you would rather not tell me, I will not ask," she said. "Harry is generally so open, but he has not been this time. So I dare say I am not to know. Perhaps I can guess. Harry has been imprudent, and has spoken too soon, and Hermione has given him a rebuff. That is what I fancy, only you need not say 'Yes' or 'No'!"
"Nothing of that kind, Marjory," the Rector answered, looking up. "We came upon a certain domestic scene which we were not meant to witness; and sometimes the less one says the better in such cases." His eyes fell upon a figure passing through the garden. "Ah, here is Hermione herself. So we must put off explanation till by-and-bye."
Marjory thought there was relief in the tone. Hermione came in a moment later, entering, as she always did, without ringing the front door bell. She seemed to be restored to her usual self, but the ordinary graciousness of manner had given place to a rather haughty air. She held her head higher than its wont, and the blue eyes had a combative expression, as of one on the look-out for opposition. Mr. Fitzalan would fain have seen different tokens.
"Harry has gone off. I am so sorry," Marjory said.
"Yes, I supposed he would leave before this. I—could not well come earlier," and there was slight hesitation. She turned then to Mr. Fitzalan; "I was sorry to see so little of you both yesterday, but I— it could not be helped. Mrs. Trevor had behaved to me in a most trying way. Of course—" and a faint flush arose— "I am vexed to have been betrayed into speaking hastily. But I had great provocation."
Her eyes went to Marjory as if in appeal, and Marjory said at once, "My father and Harry have told me almost nothing, so I do not understand. I think I had better leave you with—"
"O no!" and there was a manifest shrinking from the proposal. "I have nothing to say which you may not hear. I have come to ask something of you both—a great kindness. Did they explain to you yesterday, Mr. Fitzalan, about this East Bourne plan?"