A thrill of pleasure ran through me as I read these lines; and, notwithstanding my efforts to conceal my emotion from my companions, they but too plainly saw the excitement I felt.
'Something agreeable there! You don't look, Mr. Hinton, as if that were a latitat or a bill of costs you were reading.'
'Not exactly,' said I, laughing. 'It is an invitation to dinner from Mount Brown—wherever that may be.'
'The best house in the county,' said the Major; 'and a good fellow he is, Hugh Dillon. When is it for?'
'To-morrow at six.'
'Well, if he has not asked me to meet you, I 'll invite myself, and we 'll go over together.'
'Agreed,' said I. 'But how shall I send back the answer?'
The Major promised to send his servant over with the reply, which I penned at once.
'Just tell Hugh,' said the Major, 'that I'll join you.'
I blushed, stammered, and looked confused. 'I am not writing to Mr. Dillon,' said I, 'for the invitation came through a lady of the family, Miss Bellew—his niece, I believe.'