"Mamma, you know that I shall never separate myself from you and the girls."
"Poor Larry!" said the woman sobbing. "Of course it is all for the best; but I don't know what he'll do now."
"You must tell him, papa," said Mary; "and give him my love and bid him be a man."
CHAPTER XVIII.
"BID HIM BE A MAN."
The little phaeton remained in Dillsborough to take Mary back to Bragton. As soon as she was gone the attorney went over to the Bush with the purpose of borrowing Runciman's pony, so that he might ride over to Chowton Farm and at once execute his daughter's last request. In the yard of the inn he saw Runciman himself, and was quite unable to keep his good news to himself. "My girl has just been with me," he said, "and what do you think she tells me?"
"That she is going to take poor Larry after all. She might do worse, Mr. Masters."
"Poor Larry! I am sorry for him. I have always liked Larry Twentyman. But that is all over now."
"She's not going to have that tweedledum young parson, surely?"