‘But how and when could you have come?’
‘This morning, from Liverpool. We did not mean to storm you in this manner; we meant to have settled ourselves at the inn, and walked down; Emily was very particular about it.’
‘But you see, when he saw you, he forgot all my lectures!’ said Emily, taking his welcome for granted.
‘Very proper of him! But, Fred, I don’t quite believe it yet. How long is it since we parted?’
‘Six weeks; just enough to go to Canada and back, with a fortnight in the middle to spare.’
‘And pray how long has Mrs. Fred existed?’
‘Three weeks and two days;’ and turning half round to give her the benefit of his words, ‘it was on purely philanthropic principles, because I could not tie my own necktie.’
‘Now could I,’ said Emily pleadingly to Sophy—‘now could I let him go back again alone, when he came so helpless, and looking so dreadfully ill?’
‘And what are you going to do?’ asked Albinia. ‘You can’t join again.’
‘Join! why not? Here’s a hand for a horse, and an arm for a wife, and the rest will be done much better for me than ever it was before.’