“They say so. But you will come; won’t you, Bessy? As for waiting, it’s all nonsense. Of course you can walk on. But we’ll be at the stile by five. I’ve got my watch, you know.” And then Bessy promised him. What would she not have done for him that was in her power to do?
“Go! Of course I’ll go,” said Miss Holmes. “I’m up to anything. I’d have gone with them this morning, and have taken a gun if they’d asked me. But, by-the-bye, I’d better not.”
“Why not?” said Patty, who was hardly yet without fear lest something should mar the expedition.
“What will three gentlemen do with four ladies?”
“Oh, I forgot,” said Patty innocently.
“I’m sure I don’t care,” said Kate; “you may have Harry if you like.”
“Thank you for nothing,” said Miss Holmes. “I want one for myself. It’s all very well for you to make the offer, but what should I do if Harry wouldn’t have me? There are two sides, you know, to every bargain.”
“I’m sure he isn’t anything to me,” said Kate. “Why, he’s not quite seventeen years old yet!”
“Poor boy! What a shame to dispose of him so soon. We’ll let him off for a year or two; won’t we, Miss Coverdale? But as there seems by acknowledgment to be one beau with unappropriated services—”
“I’m sure I have appropriated nobody,” said Patty, “and didn’t intend.”