"Oh, I beg your pardon."
"Not at all. You know Frances and Miss Dimsdale so very well that I don't mind telling you. The fact is my sister thinks that I ought to be married at my age--I shan't tell you how old I am because that would give away Frances, who, like all women, doesn't want her age to be known. But the long and short of it is that she wants me to marry Miss Dimsdale. I saw very plainly that Miss Dimsdale didn't want to marry me, so I ran away."
This explanation appeared to be clear enough, and Vernon drew a long breath of relief. Ida had been right; Frances had wished her brother to marry the girl and secure the fortune. Now that Francis declined to entertain the idea Miss Hest had invited Maunders down to try his luck. But Vernon could not see what interest the former could have in bringing about the marriage with the latter. He lifted his eyes from the carpet to again address his companion, but found that Mr. Hest had slipped away to talk to an old lady with an ear-trumpet.
"You might speak to _me_," hinted a low voice at his ear, and he turned to smile at Lucy's injured face.
"You are so busy."
"There is a lull now in the tea-drinking. Why haven't you been to see me lately, Arthur?"
"I have been very busy, also I have been out of town."
"You should be with me--always," pouted Miss Corsoon.
"What would your mother say to that?" he asked, smiling broadly.
"She would be annoyed," returned Lucy promptly.