"Yes," he said, looking up.
"Like Romeo and Juliet, isn't it? Parting is such sweet sorrow she could say good-night until to-morrow. But she isn't coming out again, so you had best go at once to mamma. Good-night, Fred."
"Good-night, Fanny."
Then he went into the dining-room, where Mr. and Mrs. Lethbridge were waiting for him. It rather discomposed him to observe that they received him with grave looks instead of smiles.
"You are not sorry," he said, "for what has occurred?"
"No," replied Mrs. Lethbridge, "we are not sorry. But for one consideration there would not be a cloud upon our hearts to-night."
"What consideration?" asked Fred.
"Phœbe's father. You have not spoken to him?"
"No, I have not. To speak the truth, it was my intention to ask your advice whether, before I spoke to Phœbe, I should go to see Mr. Farebrother at Parksides."
"That would have been the best course, perhaps," said Mrs. Lethbridge.