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McQuinch, putting down his paper. "Let us have no more of this. What else do you need in the Park than a riding habit? You have that already. Whatever clothes you want you had better get in London, where you will get the proper things for your money." "Indeed, Hardy, she is not going to pay a London milliner four prices for things she can get quite as good down here."
"What do you mean by 'even Marian'?" said Elinor, sharply. "I should have said, 'Marian, who is tolerant and kind to everybody and everything. I hope you have forgiven me for carrying her off from you, Miss McQuinch. You are adopting an ominous tone toward me. I fear she has been telling you of our quarrels, and my many domestic shortcomings." "No," said Elinor.
It is very generous of you to allow her to trespass on you." "I occupy myself chiefly with Nelly McQuinch. Marian is my assistant's pupil, and he has made a very expert workwoman of her already. With a little direction, she can put a machine together as well as I can." "I am delighted to hear it. And dear Nelly?" "Oh, dear Nelly treats the subject in her usual way. But she is very amusing."
"Has the evening been a pleasant one, Miss McQuinch?" said Conolly, left alone with her. "Yes: we have had a very pleasant evening indeed. We played chess and écarté; and we all agreed to make old times of it. Marmaduke sang for us; and Marian had us nearly in tears with those old ballads of hers." "And then I came in and spoiled it all. Eh?" "Certainly not. Why do you say that?"
"Do come and listen, Nelly," said Marian, returning to the door. Mrs. Fairfax and Conolly presently went to the door too. "Would you not like to help in the chorus, Nelly?" said Marian in a low voice, as the audience began to join uproariously in the refrain. "Not particularly," said Miss McQuinch. "Sholto," said Marian, "come and share our vulgar joy. We want you to join in the chorus."
"I decline to admit that it concerns me in any way." "Of course not. But it concerns me, as I do not wish that she should be without money in a foreign city. She has telegraphed a question about her property to Miss McQuinch. That by itself is nothing; but her new address, which I first saw on a letter this morning, happens to be known to me as that of a rather shabby lodging-house."
"She will be only too glad, I daresay. You have caught her at a soft moment to-night." "I cannot find that duet anywhere," said Marian, entering. "What! up already, Sholto? Where is papa?" "I left him asleep in the dining-room. I have just been asking Miss McQuinch whether she thought you would give me a copy of this carte." "That Geneva one. It is most annoying how people persist in admiring it.
Conolly has not suffered me to interfere with his movements," he replied, with a smile, which he suppressed as he turned and greeted Miss McQuinch with his usual cold composure. But to Marmaduke, who seemed much cast down, he gave an encouraging squeeze of the hand. Not that he was moved by the misfortunes of Marmaduke; but he was thawed by the beauty of Marian.
On the threshold he turned for a moment; met Marian's reproachful eyes with a wink; grinned; and disappeared. For half an hour afterward Marian sat alone in the summer-house, thinking of the mistake she had made. Then she returned to the Cottage, where she found Miss McQuinch writing in the library, and related to her all that had passed in the summer-house.
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