"Oh!" said Anthony, "it is not as the parson we want you, but as a cousin and comrade."
Urith asked Luke if he would have a share of the meal just concluded. He shook his head; he had eaten before leaving the rectory. He had taken his meal early, so as to be sure of catching Anthony at home before he went abroad.
As Luke spoke he turned his eyes from his cousin to Urith, and saw by the expression of their faces that some trouble was at their hearts; but he had the tact not to advert to it, and to wait till they of their own accord revealed the cause.
"Have you been to Hall lately? Have you seen my father?" asked Anthony, after a pause, with his eyes on the table.
"I have not been there; your father will not see me. He cannot forgive the hand I had in making you happy."
"Then you have no good news to bring me?"
"None thence. I have talked to Bessie——"
"So have I. I saw her yesterday at Kilworthy, and she scolded me instead of comforting me."
"Comforting you! Why, Anthony, I do not suppose for an instant that she thought you needed comfort."
"Should I not, when my father shuts me out of his house—out of what should be mine—the house that will be mine some day! It is inhuman!"