“Where?” asked William.
“Anywhere. Wherever you like—here among the trees.”
“I don’t care if I do,” said William, who saw that in Trevor’s countenance which excited his curiosity; and out he came with his wideawake on, and Trevor walked beside him, looking very luridly on the ground, and marching very fast. William walked beside him, quietly waiting till the oracle should speak.
At last, wheeling round by the trunk of a huge old chestnut, he came suddenly to a full stop, and confronted his companion.
“Well, that’s off my mind; all over; the best thing I dare say could happen to me, and I think she’s a bit of a—a—I think she has a temper of her own. I didn’t like any more shilly-shally, you know, in that undecided way, and I thought I might as well tell you that it’s all off, and that I’m very pleased it is. She’s very pretty, and all that; but hang it, there are other things, and it never would have done. I have not much of a temper of my own, I believe” (Trevor was really a good-humoured fellow, but chose to charge himself with this little failing for the occasion), “and I could not get on with that kind of thing. It wouldn’t have done—it couldn’t—I thought I’d just come and tell you; and I think I’ll run up to town; they want me to go to Kincton, but it’s too slow; and—and Revington’s such a wilderness. I wish some one would take it. I don’t want to marry for ever so long. I don’t know what put it in my head.”
Mr. Vane Trevor resumed his walk at a slower pace, and he whistled a low and contemplative air, looking down on the grass with his hands in his pocket, and then he said again—
“I thought I’d just come down and tell you; and you’re not to mention it, you know—not to that fellow Drake, or anyone, mind—not that I much care, but it would not do to be talked about, and you won’t I know, thanks, and the Waggets are honourable people, they won’t talk either, I suppose; and—and I depend on you; and—and you know you and I are friends all the same.”
“Certainly no worse,” said William, very truly, shaking his hand cordially.
“And I’ll be off to-day. I’ll go to the opera, or something to-night. I’ve been too long shut up; a fellow grows rusty, you know, in this tiresome corner. I wish some fool of a fellow would take a lease of it. Good-bye, old fellow; you must come up to town and see me when I’m settled, mind.”
And so they parted.