"What is it you would with me, sir?" asked the young man, in a civil tone.
"I have but a message to give you," replied Ralph; "Moraber says that you are to be at Halling's corner at nine o'clock of the morning on Thursday next, to go through the world with me."
"That gives but two clear days," exclaimed the young man, looking at his father; "it can not be."
"Yes, yes, it can," cried the old man, eagerly; "you must not deny him, boy."
"But I will not have her stay here," replied the younger Stilling; "come what will, that shall not be."
"I will go with her myself," replied the old man; "you can remain here till Thursday morning; by that time I shall be on my way back, and at home by Friday night. He shall come, sir, he shall come. Tell our friend that he will not fail."
"If you mean by that the person calling himself Moraber," replied Ralph, "I shall not see him again before I depart; but doubtless he will know of your son's compliance with his wishes."
"Oh yes, he will not fail to know," answered the sexton; "but why do you say 'calling himself Moraber?' Think you that is not his real name?"
"That is clearly a foreign name," replied the young gentleman, "and his tongue bespeaks the Englishman."
"Oh! he knows many things that you little dream of," answered the old man, "and can speak in one tongue as well as in another; however, my son shall be with you at the time and place."