“What is your reason for thinking that the Hopes will not leave Deerbrook, Mr Rowland?”
“Mr Hope told me so himself.”
“Ah! that is nothing. You will be about the last person he will inform of his plans. Mr Walcot’s nearest friends will be the last to know, of course.”
“Pray, do not make me out one of Mr Walcot’s nearest friends, my dear. I have a very slight acquaintance with the young gentleman, and do not intend to have more.”
“You say so now to annoy me, my love: but you may change your mind. If you should see Mr Walcot your son-in-law at some future day, you will not go on to call him a slight acquaintance, I suppose?”
“My son-in-law! Have you been asking him to marry Matilda?”
“I wait, Mr Rowland, till he asks it himself; which I foresee he will do as soon as our dear girl is old enough to warrant his introducing the subject. Her accomplishments are not lost upon him. He has the prophetic eye which sees what a wonderful creature she must become. And if we are permitted to witness such an attachment as theirs will be, and our dear girl settled beside us here, we shall have nothing left to wish.”
“To speak of something more nearly at hand, I beg, my dear, that you will hold out no expectation of the corner-house to Mr Walcot, as it is not likely to be vacated.”
“Has the rent been regularly paid, so far?”
“To be sure it has.”