Chapter Three.
The Hunt-Supper.
“Alas! what haste they make to be undone!”
George Herbert.
Before he went away, Ephraim came up into the window where I sat with my knitting. Mr Parmenter was gone then, and Cecilia was up-stairs with Fanny and Amelia.
“Cary,” said he, “may I ask you a question?”
“Why, Ephraim, I thought you did that every day,” I said, feeling rather diverted at his saying such a thing.
“Ah, common questions that do not signify,” said he, with a smile. “But this is not an insignificant question, Cary; and it is one that I have no right to ask unless you choose to give it me.”
“Go on, Ephraim,” said I, wondering what he meant.