"Startling!" cried Brown. "Come now, Miss Betty, you don't mean to say you haven't seen this growing for the past six months!"
"No, truly I haven't."
"Well, that's only because you have been so occupied with your own affairs."
"Nonsense," cried Betty indignantly, with a sudden flame of colour in her cheeks. "You're quite rude."
"I don't care for anything now," cried Brown recklessly. "My prayers, tears, and alms-giving haven't been without avail. The terrors and agonies I've endured this last few days lest that old blockhead should take himself off without saying or doing anything, no man will ever know. And he would have gone off, too, had it not been for that lucky fluke of your mother's. Do you mind if I yell?"
"Hush! Here, let my hand go, it's quite useless," said Betty, looking at that member which Brown had just relinquished.
"John," gravely enquired Brown, "are you using both your hands?"
"I beg pardon, sir," enquired the astonished coachman, half turning round.
"Here, do stop your nonsense," cried Betty in a shocked voice.
"Oh, all right, John, this will do," said Brown, seizing Betty's hand again, as John gave his attention to the horses.