‘Come, no nonsense—off to dress directly! How can you have the conscience to stand there when the carriage is at the door?’
‘I shall have great pleasure in handing you in when you are ready.’
‘Laura—Amy! Does he really mean it?’
‘I am afraid he does,’ said Amy.
Eveleen let herself fall on the sofa as if fainting. ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘take him away! Let me never see the face of him again! I’m perfectly overcome! All my teaching thrown away!’
‘I am sorry for you,’ said Guy, laughing.
‘And how do you mean to face Maurice?’
‘Tell him his first bugle has so distracted me that I can’t answer for the consequences if I come to-night.
‘Mrs. Edmonstone came in, saying,—
‘Come, I have kept you waiting shamefully, but I have been consoling myself by thinking you must be well entertained, as I heard no Harmonious Blacksmith. Papa will be wondering where we are.’