“I know nothing new. There was no letter yesterday.”
“Yesterday! Surely thou must know that they are now at home? Yesterday, very early in the morning, they landed.”
“My father at home!”
“That is the truth. Where wert thou, not to know this?”
“I came to town yesterday morning. I had a great trouble. I was sick and kept my room.”
“And sick thou art now, I can see that,” said Madame Van Heemskirk coming forward—“What is the matter with thee, my Joris?”
“Cornelia has refused me. I know not how it is, that no woman will love me. Am I so very disagreeable?”
“Thou art as handsome and as charming as can be; and it is not Cornelia that has said ‘no’ to thee, it is her father. Now he will be sorry, for thy uncle is dead and thy father is Earl Hyde, and thou thyself art a lord.”
“I care not for such things. I am a poor lord, if Cornelia be not my lady.” “I wonder they sent not after thee!”
“They would be expecting me every hour. If there had been a letter I should have gone directly back with it, but it was beyond all surmising, that my father should return. Grandfather, will you see Doctor Moran for me? You can speak a word that will prevail.”