Harry came to where the horse was, and stood there for a moment, while the groom altered the stirrups to suit him.
"It's the beginning of the end, if not the end itself," he said.
"Our earnest good wishes to her."
"My love," said Janie. Her father glanced quickly at her.
Harry jumped into the saddle, waved his hand to them, and started at a gallop for Blent. The groom, with another touch of his hat, trudged off in his master's track. Janie Iver stood looking as long as Harry was in sight.
"He won't spare the horse," said Iver.
"Well, he can't this time; and anyhow he wouldn't, if he wanted to get there." She took her father's arm and pressed it. "Father, Harry Tristram has just asked me to marry him. He said Lady Tristram wanted it settled before—before she died, or he wouldn't have spoken so soon."
"Well, Janie dear?"
"When the groom came, I had just told him that I would give him an answer in a week. But now!" She made a gesture with her free hand; it seemed to mean bewilderment. She could not tell what would happen now.