"Now, let us talk of other things. When do you think of starting for Scotland?"
"To that I must reply," Fergus said with a smile, "'How long are you thinking of stopping here?' Assuredly I shall not want to be going, as long as you are here. And in any case, I should like my mother to have a week's notice before I come home; and I think that, in another fortnight, my wound will be completely healed."
"I was thinking," the count said, "that you will want to take a nurse with you."
"Do you mean, count," Fergus exclaimed eagerly, "that Thirza could go with me? That would be happiness, indeed."
"I don't quite see why she should not, Drummond. There are churches here, and clergymen.
"What do you say, Thirza?"
"Oh, father," the girl said, with a greatly heightened colour, "I could never be ready so soon as that!
"Could I, mother?"
"I don't know, my dear. Your father was talking to me an hour ago about it, and that was what I said; but he answered that, although you might not be able to get a great many clothes made, there will be plenty of time to get your things from home; and that, in some respects, it would be much more convenient for you to be married here than at Dresden. Your marriage, with one who had so lately left the service of Prussia, would hardly be a popular one with the Austrians in Dresden. So that, altogether, the plan would be convenient. We can set the milliners to work at once and, in another fortnight, get your bridal dress ready, and such things as are absolutely necessary.
"Of course, if you would rather remain single for another three or four months, your father and I would not wish to press you unduly."