"Separated? No, I should think I shouldn't. Who'd do it?"
"Because I should not like to leave my good sister Martha all to herself in a house so near the sea—"
"Why not go to the Crouch, man?"
"Thank you."
"No thanks needed if you don't take advantage of the offer."
They were at the entrance to Elba, whither Mr. Tinman was betaking himself to see his intended. He asked if Annette was at home, and to his great stupefaction heard that she had gone to London for a week.
Dissembling the spite aroused within him, he postponed his very strongly fortified design, and said, "You must be lonely."
Van Diemen informed him that it would be for a night only, as young
Fellingham was coming down to keep him company.
"At six o'clock this evening, then," said Tinman. "We're not fashionable in Winter."
"Hang me, if I know when ever we were!" Van Diemen rejoined.