"Little idiot!" observed the tender parent; and was much distempered.
He said no more about it to Major Rickards; but, when they all retired for the night, he undertook to show Father Francis his room, and sat in it with him a good half-hour talking about Kate.
"Here's a pretty scandal!" said he: "I must marry the silly girl out of hand, before this gets wind; and you must help me."
In a word, the result of the conference was, that Kate should be publicly engaged to Neville to-morrow and married to him as soon as her month's mourning should be over.
The conduct of the affair was confided to Father Francis, as having unbounded influence with her.
[CHAPTER XIII]
Next morning Mr. Peyton was up betimes in his character of Host, and ordered the servants about, and was in high spirits; only they gave place to amazement when Griffith Gaunt came down, and played the Host; and was in high spirits.
Neville too watched his rival, and was puzzled at his radiancy.
So breakfast passed in general mystification. Kate, who could have thrown a light, did not come down to breakfast. She was on her defense.