an hour later one of the who of course was quite aware that the squire s illness was serious was surprised to hear a bold and decided step descending the stairs from the direction of mr s room accompanied by the humming of a tune she knew that the doctor had not paid a visit that morning and that it was too heavy to be the or any other a group of noble man servant looking up she saw squire fully dressed descending toward her in his and boots with the swinging easy movement of his prime her face expressed her amazement what the devil looking at said the squire did you never see a man walk out of his house before his humming � which was of a defiant sort � he proceeded to the library rang the bell asked if the horses were ready and directed them to be brought round ten minutes later he rode away in the direction of behind him trembling at what these movements might they rode on through the pleasant and the monotonous straight lanes at an equal pace the distance traversed might have been about fifteen miles when could perceive that the squire was getting tired � as weary as he would have been after riding three times the distance ten years before however they reached without any and put up at the squire s accustomed inn almost immediately proceeded on foot to the inn which had given as his address it being now about four o clock had already dined � for people dined early then � and he was staying indoors he had already received mrs s reply to his letter but before acting upon her advice and starting for king s he made up his mind to wait another day that s father might at least have time to write to him if so minded the returned traveller much desired to obtain the squire s assent as well as his wife s to the proposed visit to his bride that nothing might seem harsh or forced a group of noble in his method of taking his position as one of the family but though he anticipated some sort of objection from his father in law in consequence of mrs s warning he was surprised at the announcement of the squire in person formed the of possible to as they stood each other in the best parlour of the tavern the squire hot tempered impulsive generous reckless the younger man pale tall self possessed � a man of the world fully bearing out at least one in his still in king s church which places in the of his good qualities engaging manners cultivated mind adorn d by letters and in courts d he was at this time about five and thirty though careful living and an even temperament caused him to look much younger than his years squire plunged into his errand without much ceremony or preface i am your humble servant sir he said i have read your letter writ to my wife and myself and considered that the best way to answer it would be to do so in person i am vastly honoured by your visit sir said mr bowing well what s done can t be undone said though it was mighty early and was no doing of mine she s your wife and there s an end on t but in brief sir she s too young for you to claim yet we mustn t reckon by years we must reckon by nature she s still a group of noble a girl tis of ee to come yet next year will be full soon enough for you to take her to you now courteous as could be he was a little obstinate when his resolution had once been formed she had been promised him by her birthday at latest � sooner if she were in robust health her mother had fixed the time on her own judgment without a word of interference on his part he had been hanging about foreign courts till he was weary was now a woman if she would ever be one and there was not in his mind the shadow of an excuse for putting him off longer therefore fortified as he was by the support of her mother he but firmly told the squire that he had been willing to his rights out of deference to her parents to any reasonable extent but must now in justice to himself and her insist on maintaining them he therefore since she had not come to meet him should proceed to king s in a few days to fetch her this announcement in spite of the with which it was delivered set in a passion oh sir you talk about rights you do after stealing her away a mere child against my will and knowledge if we d begged and prayed ee to take her you could say no more upon my honour your charge is quite sir said his son in law you must know by this time � or if you do not it has been a monstrous cruel injustice to me that i should have been allowed to remain in your mind with such a stain upon my character � you must know that i used no or temptation of any kind her mother assented she assented i took d a group of noble them at their word that you was really opposed to the marriage was not known to me till afterwards professed to believe not a word of it you sha n t have her till she s full � no maid ought to be married till she s � and my daughter sha n t be treated out of so he on till who had been listening in the next room entered suddenly declaring to that his master s life was in danger if the 