‘Make haste, then; there is Cecily left to Maria.’
‘I wanted to tell you that I am engaged.’
‘The deuce you are!’
‘To Mr. Randolf, Miss Charlecote’s Canadian cousin.’
Mervyn, who had expected no less than John Raymond, whirled round in indignant surprise, and looked incredulously at her, but was confronted by her two open, unabashed eyes, as she stood firm on both her feet, and continued: ‘I have been thrown a good deal with him, so as to learn his goodness and superiority. I know you will think it a very bad match, for he has nothing but his hands and head; but we mean to wait till he can offer what are considered as equal terms. We thought it right you should know.’
‘Upon my word, that’s a clever fellow!’
Phœbe knew very well that this was ironical, but would not so reply. ‘He has abilities,’ she said, ‘and we are ready to wait till he has made proof of them.’
‘Well, what now?’ he cried in despair. ‘I did think you the sensible one of the lot.’
‘When you know him,’ she said, with her fearless smile, ‘you will own that I was sensible there.’
‘Really, the child looks so complacent that she would outface me that this mad notion was a fine thing! I declare it is worse than Bertha’s business; and you so much older! At least Hastings was a man of family, and this is a Yankee adventurer picked out of the back of a ditch by that young dog, Sandbrook. Only a Yankee could have had the impudence! I declare you are laughing all the time. What have you to say for yourself?’