“I do not say,” replied Everell, smiling.
“There’s Miss Hollowfield,” mused Thornby, aloud; “her grandfather’d be opposed to a stripling like you—but nobody’d run away with such a face as hers. And there’s Miss Marvell—why, I’ll wager ’tis Dick Birch they want to marry her to. Sukey Marvell, that’s who ’tis.”
“I must not tell,” said Everell, shaking his head.
“Yes, ’tis Sukey,” declared Thornby: “well, she’s not as bad as t’other. And old Dick Birch, I’ll be glad to see him done out of her!—damned coxcomb! serves him right for the trick he played me at York races. Oh, I’ll have the laugh on Dick next time we meet!—I’ll have him here for some shooting, a-purpose. Ha, ha! These conceited fellows think they can marry any pretty girl they set their minds on. Well, young sir, I wish you joy. I’ve owed Dick Birch a grudge these many months.”
“The favour I have to ask,” said Everell, “is the loan of a chaise, with horses and a man, to the nearest town from which I can travel on by post.”
“Why, damn me, that’s not so much to ask, neither,” said Thornby, still vastly good-humoured over the discomfiture of Dick Birch.
“I thank you from my heart. And, as every minute counts, I hope I may be set on my way as soon as possible.”
“H’m!—many a man, sir, would think twice afore sending out his horses—but I don’t want to spoil sport. In for a penny, in for a pound. I’ll give orders; and meanwhile my housekeeper can show Sukey to the guest-chamber—she may like to make herself trim in front of a glass—you know the ways o’ that sex—while the horses are being put to.”
“A thousand thanks, but I daren’t allow the lady so far out of my control. She may be shown to a room, if she will; but the room must have but one door, and I must wait outside that door. Pray bear in mind, she is travelling under compulsion.”
“Compulsion!—oh, certainly—ha, ha! I’ll send for Mrs. Jenkins, and for old Rodge; he shall drive you—’twill need a careful man with the horses.” Thornby, who had risen from the table, pulled the bell-cord. “And meanwhile we’ll drink confusion to Dick Birch. Dod, to see him bubbled out of a bride this way!—it does one’s heart good! But, man, we’d better let Sukey out o’ that closet, now ’tis all settled. Come, you’ve got the key: unlock, unlock.”