"'Pon my soul!" Sir Joseph exclaimed, utterly abashed.
He could get no further. The prospects of getting Mrs. Delarayne's daughters married appeared to grow gloomier and gloomier.
"Then that's settled, you see, Sir Joseph," Mrs. Delarayne remarked. She had been induced to have this interview with Denis against her will. Her sister and the baronet had prevailed over her better judgment, and now that she saw the issue of it was to be more satisfactory than she could possibly have hoped, she had difficulty in concealing her pleasure.
At this point the report of a fire-arm made them all turn in the direction of Sandlewood.
"They seem to have got a rabbit before reaching the woods," Sir Joseph observed. "That sounded extraordinarily near."
Mrs. Delarayne was silent. She was obviously making an effort not to appear too highly gratified by the news she had heard, and was regarding Denis thoughtfully,—her eyebrows slightly raised, and her fingers drumming lightly on the arms of her chair.
"Well, then," she repeated, "I'm afraid that's settled,—isn't it, Sir Joseph?"
Another report was heard, and Sir Joseph rose.
"I wonder what the deuce they're doing!" he exclaimed going to the window.
"Probably got a stray rabbit, or a hare, on their way," suggested Denis.