"Like old times to see you, sir," she said, "ain't it, Nicholas?"
Then Valentine, seated at his ease, told his story, and was aware before it was half over that Swan was attempting to feign a surprise he did not feel, and that Mrs. Swan was endeavouring to keep within due bounds her expression of the surprise she did feel.
"Bless my heart!" she exclaimed, "you take this very easy, Nicholas."
Then Mr. Swan said, looking rather foolish, "Well, Maria, there's many more wonderful things in this world to hear on than to hear that a young man have fell in love with a young woman."
Mrs. Swan gasped. "Our Joey!" she exclaimed; "and what will Mr. Mortimer think?"
Valentine sat, composed, and almost impassive.
"You think she likes our boy, sir?"
"I am sure of it."
"How is he ever to maintain her as she'll expect!"
"She has a thousand pounds of her own; that will help him. I have written to him that he must settle it on her."