‘Dear youth, you may!’ murmured the widow, as her head gently sank on his shoulders.
The countenance of Mr Lockwood expressed some considerable surprise at the phraseology adopted by Mrs Fraser, but he attributed it to the natural emotion of the situation.
‘Then I may tell dear Blanche at once?’ said Frank.
‘Yes; she must know it sooner or later,’ said Mrs Fraser.
‘Blanche already knows of my attachment,’ said Mr Lockwood.
‘Was she not very much surprised, dear Frank?’
‘Well, I cannot say that she was, exactly.’
‘I feared she might think there was too much disparity of age,’ said the widow.
‘Only fourteen years,’ replied Lockwood.
‘No, Frank, you are joking,’ said the widow, playfully tapping his cheek; ‘not more than seven.’