"And what is even stranger, he tells me that you love him."
"That thing is less strange even than the other. I have loved him--oh, for years. Really, since the hour I was born. I believe that I was predestined to love him when I still was in the womb of time. I certainly have loved him for eighteen years, dear mother."
"For eighteen years? How odd! Well, Mr Ferguson, you will make her happy--always happy--won't you? And, Inez, you will be a good wife to--to Ronald? And so may every happiness be yours, you foolish pair!"
And before they suspected her intention, Lady Griswold had departed deftly.
[ON THE RIVER]
AN IDYLL OF A BEANFEAST
I
THE PLEASURES OF THE PEOPLE
Yes, I went on the river. I thought it would give me a chance to blow off steam--and it did.
I ran down to Richmond, and I got a craft from Messum, and I turned her nose up stream, and I started to scull for Molesey, but I never got there.