They were close to her father’s door at the Terrace. She stopped, looked at him sadly, but decisively, straight in the face, and said—
“Never! never! Never your lover, but your best friend for ever,” and she opened the gate and disappeared.
CHAPTER XIII
Mr. and Mrs. Furze were not disturbed because their daughter was late. A neighbour told them that she had gone to the Rectory with Mr. and Mrs. Cardew, and Mrs. Furze was pleased that Eastthorpe should behold her daughter apparently on intimate terms with a clergyman so well known and so respectable. But it was ten o’clock, and they wished to be in bed. Mrs. Furze had gone to the window, and had partly pushed aside the blind, watching till Catharine should appear. Just as the clock struck she saw Catharine approaching with somebody whom she of course took for Mr. Cardew. The pair came nearer, and, to her astonishment, she recognised Tom. Nay more, she saw the couple halt near the gate, and that Tom was speaking very earnestly. Mrs. Furze was so absorbed that she did not recover herself until the interview was at an end, and before she could say a word to her husband, who was asleep in the arm-chair, her daughter was at the door. Mrs. Furze went to open it.
“Why, Catharine, that surely wasn’t Tom!”
“Yes, it was, mother. Why not?”
“To-om!” half shrieked Mrs. Furze.
“Yes, Tom: I suppose father has gone to bed? Good-night, mother,” and Catharine kissed her on the forehead and went upstairs.
Mrs. Furze shut the door and rushed into the room.
“My dear! my dear!” shaking him, “Catharine has come, and Tom brought her, and they stood ever so long talking to one another.”