'You forget how soon she will be not a child. And she is going to be a very remarkable-looking girl, I can tell you. And you must not forget another thing, husband; that Pitt is as persistent as he is wilful.'
'He's got a head, I think,' said Mr. Dallas, stroking his whiskers thoughtfully.
'That won't save him. It never saved anybody. Men with heads are just as much fools, in certain circumstances, as men without them.'
'He might fancy some other child in England, if we sent him there, you know.'
'Yes; but at least she would be a Churchwoman,' said Mrs. Dallas, with her handsome face all cloudy and disturbed.
Meanwhile her son had rushed along the village street, or road rather, through the cold and darkness, the quarter of a mile to Colonel Gainsborough's house. There he was told that the colonel had a bad headache and was already gone to his room.
'Is Miss Esther up?'
'Oh yes, sir,' said Mrs. Barker doubtfully, but she did not invite the visitor in.
'Can I see her for a moment?'
'I haven't no orders, but I suppose you can come in, Mr. Dallas. It is
Mr. Dallas, ain't it?'