"Nonsense, Julia! you speak exactly as if I were running after him."
"Not running, my dear, but waiting for him. Confess it; don't you make up stories about this Mr. Buckingham? don't you call him Austin all by yourself?"
"Julia, you are shameless! I have a great mind to roll up my work and go up-stairs."
"Oh, no, Lillie. Stay here; for Henry will surely be back soon, and we shall learn exactly how the lion looked in his den. What a singularly good piece of fortune it was that Henry should have met you both!"
"Julia! you don't suppose that cousin of yours has been telling! You don't suppose he has mentioned me to Mr. Buckingham!"
"It is impossible to say. You get two men talking together, and you may be sure they forget all their promises of secrecy. Now, I shouldn't wonder if Henry were at this very moment—"
"You are simply—"
"Hark! There's Henry now."
For the door opened, and Mr. Wilding entered, the remains of a smile upon his face.
"I really should like to know, Julia," he said, "what you two ladies have been talking about. We could almost hear. We certainly could see."