“Let them wonder, then,” said Will. “They dare not slight my wife, you know,” and then he drew a pleasing picture of the next Summer, when, with his mother, Marian and Ellen, he would visit the White Mountains and Montreal.
“Why not go to Europe?” suggested Ellen. “Mr. Sheldon talks of going in August, and if you must marry this girl, you may as well go, too.”
“Well spoken for yourself, little puss,” returned Will; “but it’s a grand idea, and I’ll make arrangements with Tom as soon as I have seen Marian. Maybe she’ll refuse me,” and Will turned pale at the very idea.
“No danger,” was Ellen’s comment, while her mother thought the same, for in her estimation no one in their right mind could refuse her noble boy.
It was a long night to Will, and the next day longer still, for joyful hope and harrowing fears tormented his mind, and when at last it was dark, and he had turned his face toward Mr. Sheldon’s, he half determined to go back. But he didn’t, and with his usual easy, off-hand manner, he entered his sister’s sitting-room. Though bound to secrecy, Ellen had told the news to Mrs. Sheldon, who, of course, had told her husband; and soon after Will’s arrival, the two found some excuse for leaving him alone with Marian Grey.
Marian liked William Gordon very much—partly because he was Frederic’s friend, and partly because she knew him to be a most affectionate brother and dutiful son—two rare qualities in a traveled and fashionable man. She was always pleased to see him, and she welcomed him now as usual, without observing his evident embarrassment when at last they were alone. There were no stockings to be darned, and he did not know how to commence, until he remembered Frederic’s letter. It had helped him with his mother—it might aid him now—and after fidgeting awhile in his chair, he said:
“I heard from Mr. Raymond yesterday.”
“Indeed!” and Marian’s voice betrayed more interest than the word would indicate.
“He wrote that you were engaged to him—”
“I engaged to Frederic Raymond!” and Marian started so suddenly that she pulled her needle out from the worsted garment she was knitting.