Arthur was betrayed into a smile. “No,” he said, “I hardly expect that. But I’m a desperate coward. There’s no doubt about it!”
“And what reasons have you heard of for breaking off the engagement?”
“A good many,” Arthur replied, and proceeded to count them on his fingers. “First, it was found that she was dying of—something; so he broke it off. Then it was found that he was dying of—some other thing; so she broke it off. Then the Major turned out to be a confirmed gamester; so the Earl broke it off. Then the Earl insulted him; so the Major broke it off. It got a good deal broken off, all things considered!”
“You have all this on the very best authority, of course?”
“Oh, certainly! And communicated in the strictest confidence! Whatever defects Elveston society suffers from, want of information isn’t one of them!”
“Nor reticence, either, it seems. But, seriously, do you know the real reason?”
“No, I’m quite in the dark.”
I did not feel that I had any right to enlighten him; so I changed the subject, to the less engrossing one of “new milk,” and we agreed that I should walk over, next day, to Hunter’s farm, Arthur undertaking to set me part of the way, after which he had to return to keep a business-engagement.
CHAPTER III.
STREAKS OF DAWN.
Next day proved warm and sunny, and we started early, to enjoy the luxury of a good long chat before he would be obliged to leave me.