“You’ll never guess, Rosie. Never. You need not try.”
“Is it Harry this time?” said Arthur, looking in from the hall with his hat on.
“No. Listen, Arthur! Harry says, ‘What is this that Mr Green has been telling me about Arthur and little Miss Grove? I was greatly amused at the idea their mutual admiration. Mr Green assures me that he has the best authority for saying that Arthur is to carry off the heiress. Charlie, too, has hinted something of the same kind. Tell Graeme, when that happens, I shall expect her to come and keep my house.’”
“They said Mr Green was going to carry off the heiress himself!” exclaimed Rose.
“Listen!” continued Will. “‘Unless, indeed, Graeme should make up her mind to smile on Mr Green and take possession of the “palatial residence,” of which he has just laid the foundation near C—.’”
“Here is a bit for you, Graeme. Nobody is to be left out, it seems. It will be your turn next, Rosie,” said Arthur, as he went away laughing.
“But that is all nonsense about Arthur and little Miss Grove?” said Rose, half questioningly.
“I should think so, indeed! Fancy Arthur coming to that fate,” said Graeme. “That would be too absurd.”
And yet the thought came uncalled several times that day, and her repetitions of “too absurd,” became very energetic in her attempts to drive it quite away. The thought was unpleasantly recalled to her when, a day or two after, she saw her brother, standing beside the Grove carriage, apparently so interested in his conversation with the pretty Fanny that she and Rose passed quite close to them unobserved. It was recalled more unpleasantly still, by the obliging care of Mrs Gridley, who was one of their first visitors after their return. The Grove carriage passed as she sat with them, and, nodding significantly toward it, she said:
“I don’t know whether I ought to congratulate you or sympathise with you.”