There was no apology in her tone; it was rather that of one who was defying censure; and her mother could only gasp out—
“How long?”
“Three weeks. When we heard you were returning, we thought it would save much trouble and difficulty to secure ourselves against contingencies, and profit by Scottish facilities.” Wherewith Janet handed her mother a certificate of her marriage, at Glasgow, before Jane Ray and another witness, and taking her wedding-ring from her purse, put it on, adding, “When you see him, mother, you will be more than satisfied.”
“Where is he?” interrupted Caroline.
“At the Railway Hotel, waiting till you are prepared to see him. He brought me down, but he is to give a lecture at Glasgow the day after tomorrow, so we can only remain one night.”
“Oh, Janet—Janet, this is very fearful!”
At that moment, Johnny strolled up to the window from the outside, and, as he greeted Janet with some surprise, he observed—
“There’s a most extraordinary looking foreign fellow loitering about out here. I warned him he was on private ground, and he made me a bow, as if I, not he, were the trespasser.”
On this Janet darted out at the window without another word, and John exclaiming, in dismay—
“Mother Carey! what is the matter?”