"Ah, that, indeed, I don't know; but I would wager—yes, I would wager anything, that it is something not dreadful at all. Come, Mark, what is it?—Speak out."
"Then, it's just this," said Mark. "We are going out of London, and I want you both to come with us, for I know very well if you don't, that you will be as miserable as possible, thinking of Johanna, and that Johanna will be in much the same state thinking of you, and that you will dream every night of Todd."
The old couple looked at each other with surprise and gratification. Mr. Oakley took off his spectacles, and said—
"My dear boy, do you know, I was just going to say that—that—"
"That, in fact," put in Mrs. Oakley, "we would be glad to go with you, if you would let us, for Sir Richard said he would advise you both to go out of London, and leave him to find out and hang Todd at his leisure, you know."
"Yes, that was it," said the old man. "That was the very thing that brought us over here, my dears; so if you will only be so good—"
"Come, come," said Mark, "it is, you must be so good. I asked you first, you know, so you do us the favour. Is not that it, Johanna? Of course it is."
"You are very, very good and kind, Mark."
"Oh, stuff! not at all; I say what I like, that's all, and when I say that it would please me mightily to have your father and mother with us, Johanna, where we are going, I mean it from my heart, as you know well."
"I know you do, Mark. And poor Tobias, father, is to be with us likewise. You have heard all about poor Tobias?"