"Oh!" thought Toney to herself, "she was hatching that! It was for me!" Then she laughed.
"Never, Maud, so don't conspire! I'm going to be a real old maid. The jolliest old maid that ever was. Remember the Stone House."
"You are quite, quite sure?"
"Just about sure! Golly! I wouldn't be the Honourable Mrs. Edward Lang at any price."
As she walked home Toney was in a very meditative mood. She blamed herself for this sadness, for her romance had succeeded beyond her greatest hopes. What was the matter with her? She looked up and in the near distance she saw Lewis walking with his bailiff. Her heart beat faster. Would he see her? She wanted to talk to him very badly, but his back was turned to her. She might have called to him, but she wouldn't or couldn't. Well, she was a silly, a downright silly!
But fate interfered. The bailiff saw Miss Whitburn and touched his hat, and Lewis turned. He half hesitated, but as Toney stood still, he was obliged to come forward.
"Are you going home?" was all he said.
"Yes," answered Toney. How stupid they both were, she thought.
"I've had a hard morning with Selby. He's not been here long, so I have a great deal to explain before going away."
"Do stay till after Thursday!" said Toney. "It's quite a quiet wedding, only just flowers and music, and Jeanie would be so pleased, and especially Maud."