“Hang it—give me a plain answer to a plain question! How long will you wait?”
Midwinter carefully restored the paper to its place in his pocketbook.
“I’ll wait,” he said, “till we get to Thorpe Ambrose.”
THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
BOOK THE SECOND
I. LURKING MISCHIEF.
1. From Ozias Midwinter to Mr. Brock.
“Thorpe Ambrose, June 15, 1851.
“DEAR MR. BROCK—Only an hour since we reached this house, just as the servants were locking up for the night. Allan has gone to bed, worn out by our long day’s journey, and has left me in the room they call the library, to tell you the story of our journey to Norfolk. Being better seasoned than he is to fatigues of all kinds, my eyes are quite wakeful enough for writing a letter, though the clock on the chimney-piece points to midnight, and we have been traveling since ten in the morning.