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Miss Anne Prettyman, when she saw the great friendship with which the major was dismissed, could not contain herself, but asked most impudent questions, in a whisper indeed, but in such a whisper that any sharp-eared maid-servant could hear and understand them. "Is it settled," she asked when her sister had ascended only the first flight of stairs; "has he popped?"
I mean that he can be a friend to his tenants, and kind and generous as well as just. As it is, Cousin Robin will go back to America and tell her friends what selfish brutes we are over here, and how jolly glad she was to get away!" "Mrs. Loring will carry no tales, I am sure," said Lavendar. "But tell me, my dear fellow, did you imagine that Mrs. Prettyman would be a gainer by your action?"
Major as he was, he blushed as he sat before the old woman, trying to tell his story, but not knowing how to tell it. "The truth is, Miss Prettyman, I have done all but ask her to be my wife, and now has come this terrible affair about her father." "It is a terrible affair, Major Grantly; very terrible." "By Jove, you may say that!"
Miss Prettyman did her best to make poor Grace think that the affair had so far gone favourably, did her best, that is, without saying anything which her conscience told her to be false. "It is to be settled at the assizes in April," she said. "And in the meantime what will become of papa?" "Your papa will be at home, just as usual. He must have some one to advise him.
Prettyman, when you little thought I was listening, and you didn't know much what you were saying I heard you. 'My dear Prettyman, says you, 'when some women get talking, they club all their husbands' faults together; just as children club their cakes and apples, to make a common feast for the whole set. Eh? "But I do: and I remember, too, what brandy was left when Prettyman left.
He would have asked to see herself." "But she never goes out now, and he can't see her." "Or he would have gone to them over at Hogglestock," said Miss Prettyman. "But of course he must come up now he is here. Would you mind telling him? or shall I ring the bell?" "I'll tell him. We need not make more fuss than necessary, with the servants, you know. I suppose I'd better not come back with him?"
"Don't tell me about the bishop, John," she said, "the bishop is a cypher." "You may be sure Dr Tempest would not have a hand in it if it were not right," said John Walker. "My dear Mr John," said Miss Anne Prettyman, "Dr Tempest is as hard as a bar of iron, and always was. But I am surprised that Mr Robarts should take a part in it."
"Do you mean Prettyman Sweet?" "My goodness gracious Agnes!" gasped Billy. "That's never Purt Sweet? Don't tell me he's disguised himself for a nigger minstrel show in that fashion?" They were all laughing at the unconscious Purt by now all save Lily; and Chet said, gravely: "There is something the matter with your eyesight, Short and Long. That's Purt in a brand new outing suit."
As it was vanity alone, that had induced Mr. Prettyman to pay his addresses to the lady, who was universally allowed to surpass in beauty and every elegant accomplishment in the place in which he was, he would have been less pleased that his amour should have terminated in a marriage, than that by his affectation and coquetry he might break the heart of the simple fair one.
The most pressing business was to go home and tell his daughter that Freely was a poor sneak, probably a rascal, and that her engagement was broken off. Mr. Prettyman stayed, with some internal self-gratulation that he had never given in to Freely, and that Mr. Chaloner would see now what sort of fellow it was that he had put over the heads of older parishioners.
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