"Oh, clients are always in a hurry."
"So you see nothing in it? nothing alarming, I mean?"
"Nothing very alarming. Two landed proprietors in love with you; that is all."
"But, dear Mr. Houseman, that is what makes me uneasy: at this rate, they must look on one another as—as—rivals; and you know rivals are sometimes enemies."
"Oh, I see now," said Houseman: "you apprehend a quarrel between the gentlemen. Of course there is no love lost between them: but they met in my office and saluted each other with perfect civility. I saw them with my own eyes."
"Indeed! I am glad to hear that,—very glad. I hope it was only a coincidence then, their both making their wills."
"Nothing more, you may depend: neither of them knows from me what the other has done, nor ever will."
"That is true," said Kate, and seemed considerably relieved.
To ease her mind entirely, Houseman went on to say, that, as to the report that high words had passed between the clients in question at the "Roebuck," he had no doubt it was exaggerated.
"Besides," said he, "that was not about a lady: I'm told it was about a horse,—some bet belike."