“Well, Hazel? Never any more. Let me only see you satisfactorily married, and I shall be ready to die in peace.”
“No, no, no, dear!” cried Hazel; “and pray don’t say any more about such things.”
“I must my dear; but tell me, has Mr Graves been down again?”
“No, mother.”
Mrs Thorne sighed, as she always did at the word “mother.”
“Did I—I—tell you that I had had a letter from Mr Geringer?”
“No,” said Hazel quickly. “Surely you are not corresponding with him?”
“Oh, no, my dear; I only answered his letters.”
“Answered his letters?”
“Yes, my dear; he said he was coming down to see us, if I would give my consent, and of course I did.”