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All this was said as Felix Graham was lying with his broken bones in the comfortable room at Noningsby; and to tell the truth, when it was so said his heart was not quite at ease about Mary Snow. Up to this time, having long since made up his mind that Mary should be his wife, he had never allowed his thoughts to be diverted from that purpose.
At this period of the present season it happened that Noningsby was more central to the proceedings of the hunt than The Cleeve, and therefore he was enabled to think that he was remaining away from home chiefly on business. On one point, however, he had stoutly come to a resolution. That question should be asked of Madeline Staveley before he returned to his grandfather's house.
Be that as it may, she was found alone, and he was permitted to declare his purpose unmolested by father, mother, or family friends. "You remember how we parted at Noningsby," said he, when their first greetings were well over. "Oh, yes; I remember it very well. I do not easily forget words such as were spoken then." "You said that you would never turn away from me."
But now, that tale which Sir Peregrine had told her respecting himself and Lady Mason had made it quite impossible that anything should be said on the other subject. And then again, if it was decreed that the Noningsby family and the family of The Cleeve should be connected, would not such a marriage as this between the baronet and Lady Mason be very injurious?
I should wrong him if I were to say that he was hard-hearted, but he flattered himself that he was just-hearted, which sometimes is nearly the same as had been the case with his father before him, and was now the case with his half-brother Joseph. The day after this was his last at Noningsby.
"I am very glad to see you once more down stairs," said Madeline, as she frankly gave him her hand, not merely touching his "very, very glad. But I do hope you will get stronger before you venture to leave Noningsby. You have frightened us all very much by your terrible accident."
She therefore had no objection to leave Peregrine alone with her one ewe-lamb, and therefore the opportunity which he sought was at last found. "I shall be leaving Noningsby to-morrow, Miss Staveley," he said one day, having secured an interview in the back drawing-room in that happy half-hour which occurs in winter before the world betakes itself to dress.
"But of course a man is obliged to be civil to girls in his own house." And then they all went to bed. In the conversation which had taken place after dinner at Noningsby with regard to the Masons Peregrine Orme took no part, but his silence had not arisen from any want of interest on the subject.
I have told you that to us you would be acceptable as a suitor; and after that I think it will be best to leave the matter for the present without any further words. Let it be understood that you will spend next Christmas at Noningsby, and then you will both be older and perhaps know your own minds better." "That's a year, you know." "A year is not so very long at your time of life."
Furnival had written to his wife, not from Noningsby, but from some provincial town, probably situated among the Essex marshes, saying various things, and among others that he should not, as he thought, be at home at Christmas-day. Mrs.
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