“Where is he, Jane?”
“In the front parlor.”
“I won't be a moment.”
She went upstairs. There was no necessity; Jane was right there; but it was a strict custom in the country, and is, for that matter, and will be till time and vanity shall be no more. More majorum a girl must go up and look at herself in the glass if she did nothing more, before coming in to receive company.
Susan entered the parlor; she came in so gently that she had a moment to observe her visitor before he saw her. He had seated himself with his back to the light, and was devouring a stupid book on husbandry that belonged to her father. The moment she closed the door he saw her and rose from his seat.
“Miss Merton?”
“Yes, sir.”
“The living of this place has been vacant more than a month.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It will not be filled up for three months, perhaps.”