Nathan Baskerville discussed the situation with Mrs. Lintern a week before the great production of 'St. George.' Matters had now advanced and the situation was developed.
"That old fool, Gollop!" he said. "He goeth now as if the eye of the world was on him. You'd think Shaugh Prior was the hub of the universe, as the Yankees say, and that Thomas was the lynch-pin of the wheel!"
"He's found time to see which way the cat's jumping, all the same," answered Mrs. Lintern. "Full of Ned Baskerville and our Cora now! Says that 'tis a case and everybody knows it."
Nathan shrugged his shoulders.
"Yes—well, these things can't be arranged for them. The young must go their own road. A splendid couple they make without a doubt. They'll look magnificent in their finery at the revel. But I wish nephew Ned wasn't quite so vain of his good parts."
Cora herself entered at this moment, and had that to say which awoke no small interest in her mother.
"I've fallen in with Mark," she said; "and I was passing, but he spoke and 'tis all well, I believe. He was very quiet and you might almost say cheerful."
"Thank the Lord he's got over it then," answered Nathan; but Mrs. Lintern doubted.
"Don't feel too sure of that. He ban't one to wear his heart on his sleeve, anyway."
"He's took it surprising well, everybody says," said Cora, in a voice that made the innkeeper laugh.