"But for six weeks? It is really nothing."

"Nothing to you or me perhaps, but I am afraid it is a good deal to him,
poor old man."

"Louisa, I assure you, I would not ask him to spare me for a day if it
were not a thing that must be done now, and that I should all my life
regret leaving undone."

She looked at him with an amused smile. People in love do so overrate
trifles; but she was really of opinion that he should go if possible.

"Yes," she said, "I understand that. And I do not myself see any
particular cause for delaying since it must be done. But still I think
it would be well to ask the Doctor's opinion first."

"That is easy at any rate. He will be here to-morrow morning."

"And when do you wish to start?"

"By the first mail. I would not lose an hour if I could help it."

"You would frighten your father to death. No, you must wait a week
certainly."

"I wish I were certain of being off in a week."

"Unreasonable boy! You talk of going across the Atlantic as other people
do of going across the Channel. See, there is Brown, grandpapa must be
awake."