"I haven't been here very long," Henry answered, "and I'm going away again after Easter. I'm going to be married."
"Married!"
"Yes ... to Ninian Graham's sister. I've often talked of you to her. You must come and stay with us when we get back to Ballymartin."
"Yes. Yes, I should like to! I hope you'll be happy, Henry!" He spoke in a nervous, agitated way that was not habitual with him, and Henry, looking more closely at him, saw that he was tired and ill-looking.
"Aren't you well, John?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. Yes, I'm quite well. I'm rather tired, that's all. I've been working very hard!"
"Still drilling?"
"Yes ... still drilling!"
"What are you doing at Easter, John?" Henry asked.
Marsh looked at him quickly, almost in a startled fashion. "At Easter!" he repeated. "Oh ... nothing! Why?"