“‘Oh, that’s a funny rogue, Lawrence.’
“Lawrence met Clare in the entrance-hall, and although her hand shook perceptibly in his, a blush tinged her cheek as she bade him welcome, and opened the drawing-room door.
“‘Now, sir truant,’ began Emma, in mock heroics; ‘deliver up your arms. Let me unbuckle your sword, sir knight—that’s it. I’m sure you don’t want it clanking at your heels while with us. Now, Edward Lawrence, Esq., M.A., you are at our mercy; and if you don’t ask pardon for your long absence, and promise to be a better boy for the future, prepare for the block,’ she continued, flourishing the sword with both hands. ‘Clare shall be the parson, and I the executioner! You will be better, eh? Then this time you are safe.’
“‘I was extremely sorry to hear of your indisposition, Clare,’ remarked Lawrence, with the air of one very intimately and long acquainted. ‘Even now you look fretted and thoughtful.’
“‘Do I? how complimentary! I will reverse it by saying that you appear remarkably well, Edward, if a ferocious captain of cadets, and a profound Master of Arts will allow me to call him by familiar names.’
“‘Oh, bless you, cousin, we must not be so familiar now, you know. No more blind man’s buff, and kiss-in-the-ring, as we used to. He’s suddenly become very grand; just consider being created a Master of Arts and a captain, all in one day. Dear me, ain’t we very grand!’
“‘Come, come, girls,’ remarked the colonel, entering the room and seating himself on the sofa; ‘don’t badger the captain; two to one is not the thing—fair play! You’ll be a graduate yourself next year, and—’
“‘Oh, won’t that be fine! In white satin, and crowns of flowers, and all that!—Oh, how I envied Clare last year; she looked so pretty that——’
“‘Cousin, cousin,’ broke in Clare, blushing and hanging down her head, ‘really I never heard such non——’
“‘I dare say you haven’t, but you did look nice, everybody said so, the ladies said so, for I heard ’em, and the gentlemen too; one said ‘oh how pale; another ‘what a sweet voice’ and a third, whose initials are E. L. said ‘how modest!’