"All right, Chirpy, a bargain," he said.
And they sealed it with a warm grip of mutual appreciation.
"Now tell me what everybody has been saying about me," she said, getting
to her feet.
He smiled as he leisurely arose.
"To begin with," he said, "I've seen mamma."
She looked up at him sharply.
"Go on! Wasn't she furious?"
"My dear child, that is but a mild term. She was cold as the nether
mill-stone. I am afraid there isn't much chance for us if we persist in
our folly."
"Don't be absurd! Tell me everything. Has that announcement been
contradicted?"
"Once," said Rivington. "But it has been inserted three times since
then."
"Oh, but you didn't----"
"Yes, but I did. It was necessary. I think everyone is now convinced of
our engagement, including Lady Florence."
Ernestine laughed a little, in spite of herself.
"I can't think what the end of it will be," she said, with a touch of
uneasiness.
"Wait till we get there," said Rivington.
She threw him a glance, half merry and half shy.
"Did you tell mother where I was?"
"On the contrary," said Rivington, "I implored her to tell me."
She drew a sharp breath.
"That was very ingenious of you."
"So I thought," he rejoined modestly.
"And what did she say?"
"She said with scarcely a pause that she had sent you out of town to
give you time to come to your senses, and it was quite futile for me to
question her, as she had not the faintest intention of revealing your
whereabouts.
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