Who arranged this last drive, this tête-à-tête, no one knew except the artful coquette and her venerable victim.
They all reached the church in good time.
The rector, the Rev. Dr. Goodwin, read the morning service, and the Rev. Dr. Jones preached the sermon.
At the conclusion of the services, when the congregation were leaving, Mr. Craven Kyte came up to pay his respects to the ladies from Blue Cliffs.
Miss Cavendish introduced him to Dr. Jones, explaining that he had been a ward of her father, and was once an inmate of Blue Cliff Hall.
Dr. Jones received the young man with courtesy, and in his turn introduced him to Miss Coroni.
Then Emma Cavendish invited him to go home with them to dinner, kindly reminding him of the old custom of spending his holidays in his guardian's house.
With a smile and a bow, and with a warm expression of thanks, the young man accepted the offered hospitality.
And when the party entered their carriages to return to Blue Cliffs, Craven Kyte, mounted on a fine horse, attended them.
But, mind, he did not ride beside the carriage that contained the three young ladies, but beside the gig occupied by Mary Grey and Dr. Jones.