"Need I say that Miss Bride will be absolutely free to take any step she likes?"
"How could I doubt it?" exclaimed the lady, with her most expressive smile. "Do you allow me to make known the—the renewal of your engagement?"
"Certainly," Dyce answered, beaming upon her.
Mrs. Toplady rose.
"I am so happy to have been the first to bring you the news. But it a little surprises me that you had not learnt it already from Miss Bride, who knew all about the will two days ago."
"Why should it surprise you?" said Lashmar, gently, as he took her hand. "Naturally I have kept away from Rivenoak, supposing Miss Tomalin to be still there; and Miss Bride was not likely to be in haste to communicate a piece of news which, strictly speaking, hardly concerns me at all."
"Be sure you come to see me when you are in town," were Mrs. Toplady's last words.
And her eyes twinkled with appreciation of Lashmar's demeanour.