"They are gone off somewhere, under the pretext of cutting flowers. I don't think the flowers were quite the object, though."
He stole a glance at his father as he spoke. But he gathered nothing. And he dashed at once into the subject he had at heart.
"Father, you will not stand in their light! It will be a crushing blow to both, if you do. Let him have her! There's not a man in the world half as worthy."
But still Mr. Ashley made no rejoinder. Henry scarcely gave him time to make one.
"I have seen it a long time. I have seen how Halliburton kept down his feelings, not being sure of the ground with you. I fear that to-day they must have overmastered him; for he has certainly spoken out. Dear father, don't make two of the best spirits in the world miserable, by withholding your consent!"
"Henry," said Mr. Ashley, turning to him with a smile, "do you fancy William Halliburton is one to have spoken out without my consent?"
Henry's thin cheek flushed. "Did you give it him? Have you already given it him?"
"I gave it him to-day. I drew from him the fact of his attachment to Mary: not telling him in so many words that he should have her, but leaving it for her to decide."
"Then it will be: for I have seen where Miss Mary's love has been. How immeasurably you have relieved me!" continued Henry. "The last half-hour I have been seeing nothing but perplexity and cross-grained guardians."
"Have you?" returned Mr. Ashley. "You should have brought a little common sense to bear upon the subject, Henry."