"You always have done so, uncle!" said Maude, decisively.
"Always, uncle!" echoed Gertrude, who was best as chorus.
"That's right, my dears. I'm glad you've found it so, as I intended it. So long as I live you will find that you will be treated in the same way, and I have made such provision for you in my will as I would have made for my own daughters, if it had pleased God to give me any. Having told you this, it's right that I should tell you of something which is going to happen in this house, though it won't make any difference in your position, nor any difference to you at all that I know of, but yet it's right you should be made acquainted with it. I'm--I'm going to be married!"
There was a pause for an instant, and then it was Gertrude spoke.
"To be married!" she said. "You going to be married!--Oh, uncle, I know to whom! I'm sure I can guess!"
"Guess, then, my dear," said Mr. Creswell.
"To dear old Mrs. Ashurst, isn't it?" cried Gertrude. "I'm sure it is! She is the very kindest, sweetest old thing and if she only had better health---- I'm right, uncle, am I not?--it is Mrs. Ashurst?"
"No, my dear," said Mr. Creswell, with hesitating voice and glowing cheeks--"no, my dear, it's not Mrs. Ashurst!"
"Ah, then, it's some one you have met away from Woolgreaves, away from the neighbourhood, some one we don't know!"
"No, indeed!" said Mr. Creswell, "it is some one you know very well, and I hope love very much. It is Marian--Miss Ashurst."