"Absurd! We shall just lose those lodgings in Mostyn Terrace. It's nothing on earth but Hermione's nonsense, otherwise we might be off on Tuesday. What does she mean to do?"
"I don't know," Julia answered, in an undertone.
"Nor anybody else, apparently. Mittie asked Miss Fitzalan if Hermione meant to come with us, and Miss Fitzalan said she was not sure. If I were Harvey, I would make her say 'Yes' or 'No' at once, without any more nonsense."
"She has said 'No."
"In a passion; but that means nothing. I believe the Fitzalans won't take her in, and she is waiting to arrange something else before she speaks." A shrewd guess this on the part of Mrs. Trevor. "And Harvey is just giving her extra time to make arrangements. If he had decided to go straight off without delay, she would have had no choice about coming. Much the best plan! Not that I want her in East Bourne, but I shouldn't be sorry for once to see her compelled to give in."
"Francesca, do be careful! You will be overheard," Julia entreated, in alarm at the raised tone.
"No fear, my dear! John hasn't any attention to spare from the horses. And as for Hermione, she's going the round of her favourite cottages, I suppose, preaching patience to all the old women, and expatiating on her own wrongs. I wish some of them would preach to Hermione for a change. She needs it, if any one does."
To Julia's relief, Harvey appeared. He seemed in unusually good spirits, and she was much delighted at his proposal to take her with him. Of late he had systematically avoided prolonged and unnecessary têtes-à-tête. Twice, at least, when she had offered to be his companion in the dog-cart, he had had out the brougham instead, persuading Francesca to join them. The feeling appeared now to have worn off.
The horses, once off and out of the garden, claimed all Harvey's energies. John sat aloft behind, with folded arms and stolid face. Julia was supremely happy, quite content to be silent and to watch proudly her husband's capable handling of the reins. Ordinarily she was apt to be nervous about horses, but when Harvey sat beside her she did not know what fear meant.
"We have done our first two miles in style," Harvey remarked, when they came to a hill so steep that the horses showed themselves willing to walk. John dropped to the ground, and strode in their rear, apparently glad to use his limbs.