“No,” said Conolly. “Do you think you could face the Academy again on Monday at half-past four?”
“Why?”
“Miss Lind is coming to meet me here at that hour.”
“Marian!”
“Precisely. Marian. She has promised to marry me. At present it is a secret. But it was to be mentioned to you.”
“It will not be a secret very long if you allow people to overhear you calling her by her Christian name in the middle of the Academy, as you did me just now,” said Elinor, privately much taken aback, but resolute not to appear so.
“Did you overhear us? I should have been more careful. You do not seem surprised.”
“Just a little, at your audacity. Not in the least at Marian’s consenting.”
“Thank you.”
“I did not mean it in that way at all,” said Elinor resentfully. “I think you have been very fortunate, as I suppose you would have married somebody in any case. I believe you are able to appreciate her. That’s a compliment.”