"Why, it was but the other day you were in such a hurry."

"Ah--yes--I have thought more about it since then."

"I should have imagined that this would depend on what Patty thinks,"
said Miss Le Smyrger, standing up for the privileges of her sex. "It
is presumed that the gentleman is always ready as soon as the lady will
consent."

"Yes, in ordinary cases it is so; but when a girl is taken out of her
own sphere--"

"Her own sphere! Let me caution you, Master John, not to talk to Patty
about her own sphere."

"Aunt Penelope, as Patience is to be my wife and not yours, I must
claim permission to speak to her on such subjects as may seem suitable
to me." And then they parted--not in the best humour with each other.

On the following day Captain Broughton and Miss Woolsworthy did not
meet till the evening. She had said, before those few ill-omened words
had passed her lover's lips, that she would probably be at Miss Le
Smyrger's house on the following morning. Those ill-omened words did
pass her lover's lips, and then she remained at home. This did not
come from sullenness, nor even from anger, but from a conviction that
it would be well that she should think much before she met him again.
Nor was he anxious to hurry a meeting. His thought--his base thought--
was this; that she would be sure to come up to the Combe after him; but
she did not come, and therefore in the evening he went down to her, and