"Ah! my dearest, I am afraid you might be out I must hurry away at once; but I just called to say that I have had a telegram from Webster. You know how I have longed for you two to meet. Well, he is coming to town to-day, and I want to bring him here at three o'clock. You will be sure to be at home."
"I am afraid I can't, John; I have an engagement."
"Oh! but you must put it off, you really must see Webster. He is my greatest friend, and is to be my best man. You really must, Lottie! and he telegraphs that he is coming up from Oxford on purpose."
"I am ever so sorry. Could not you telegraph to him to put off his visit until to-morrow?"
"No, my dear; he has started before this."
"I am very sorry; I am unfortunate," repeated Charlotte. A certain degree of obstinacy, altogether foreign to her nature, had crept into her voice.
Hinton looked at her in undisguised astonishment.
"You don't mean to say that you are not going to see Webster, when he is coming up to town on purpose?"
"John, dear, I will see him at five o'clock, I shall be home then. But I have an engagement at three."
"I cannot bring Webster here at five, he must be on his way back then. You must put off your engagement."