‘We heard her voice as she was going away.’
‘She brought me some enspiriting news, and thought it better I should have the reporting of it to you.’
With brevity he made known what had befallen.
‘Cheerful, isn’t it? The kind of thing that strengthens one’s trust in Providence.’
The girls were appalled. Maud, who was reading by the fireside, let her book fall to her lap, and knit her brows darkly.
‘Then your marriage must be put off, of course?’ said Dora.
‘Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if that were found necessary,’ replied her brother caustically. He was able now to give vent to the feeling which in Marian’s presence was suppressed, partly out of consideration for her, and partly owing to her influence.
‘And shall we have to go back to our old lodgings again?’ inquired Maud.
Jasper gave no answer, but kicked a footstool savagely out of his way and paced the room.
‘Oh, do you think we need?’ said Dora, with unusual protest against economy.