‘Oh! yes, yes, let us go,’ she cried. ‘It will be a great deal better than anything at home can be.’
‘Then you venture on telling Owen, now!’
‘Oh, yes! It was a mere delusion of mine that it would cost him anything. Honor is all that he wants, I am rather in their way than otherwise. He rests on her down-pillow-ship, and she sees, hears, knows nothing but him!’
‘Is Miss Charlecote aware of—what has been going wrong?’
‘Not she! I told her before that I should take my own time for the communication, and I verily believe she has forgotten all about it! Then little demure Phœbe fell over head and ears in love with the backwoodsman on the spot, and walked about in a dream such as ought to have been good fun to watch, if I had had the spirit for it; and if Robert had not been sufficiently disengaged to keep his eyes open, I don’t know whether anything would have roused them short of breaking a blood-vessel or two.’
‘I shall never rest till you are in my keeping! I will go to Fulmort at once, and tell him that I accept.’
‘And I will go to Owen, and break the news to him. When are you coming again?’
‘To-morrow, as soon as I have opened school.’
‘Ah! the sooner we are gone the better! Much good you can be to poor Wrapworth! Just tell me, please, that I may know how badly I served you, how often you have inquired at Mrs. Murrell’s.’
‘Why—I believe—each day except Saturday and Sunday; but I never met him there till just now.’