"Very well," she said, with a sweet meekness that made him laugh, but with a curious catch at his heart. It is dangerous for a woman to play at meekness! She recovered herself quickly, and struck gayly into another theme. "Guess who's engaged!"
They had been walking up the path to the house, but at this he stopped short. "Engaged? Here? Some one I know?"
"Yes!"
"Not your brother?"
"Henry? Why, no. What made you think of him? It's Mr. Selby!"
"And Miss Hadley?" he asked, in dismay.
"Yes! How clever of you! How did you guess?"
"Wait a minute. Don't go in just yet," said Burton, stopping at the door. He led her aside to a garden bench which stood against the wall. "I want to consider this. Tell me all you know about it."
"There is nothing more to tell. Mr. Selby hasn't called for our congratulations. But the report is abroad."
"Does your brother know it?"