difficulty in catching him; for he was galloping about with messages all day, figuring to himself that he produced a grand effect in the canvass,--making caricatures, describing them to Lionel, and conducting him wherever he was not expected to be seen. However, catch him she did, at bed-time, and pulling him into her room, propounded her difficulty.
'Gerald, I don't see how I am ever to manage to go with you to their wedding.'
Ha? don't you? Well, it would be a pity to lose the nomination-day, and the show of hands; I should travel all night to be in time, but you could not, I suppose?'
'I? why you don't think I should go to it?'
'Lionel will--I am to take care of Lionel. Can't you go? What a bore it must be to be a woman! Well, then, why don't you come to the wedding?'
'Because I think Clara will get into such a fuss, if there is no one to help her at the dinner the evening before. There is Mrs. Pringle coming to dine and sleep, so it can't be only a gentleman's party: and there is so much to do.'
'Whew! it will be very stupid of you not to come; and how Agnes will scold! But I suppose yen can't be everywhere. One would give up something for the sake of beating such a rogue as that Faulkner.'
'If we were but sure of doing it.'
'Sure! Why we shall smash him to shivers, if one fortieth part of the people are but as good as their word. Did I tell you, Marian, how I answered that old farmer to-day?' &c., &c., all which Marian had to hear, before she could get him back to the matter in hand.
'I am almost sorry to give up those three days,' he said, 'though it is for their wedding; but you see, Marian,' and the boy spoke with his air of consequence, 'I think it is expected of me, and they would all be disappointed. It would not look as if it was well between Edmund and mo, if I was not present; but you can please yourself, you know.'
'Yes, yes, you could not stay away,' said Marian; 'I should be very sorry that you should. You must go.'
'And if I come away that afternoon, I may be back by the mail train by one at night, and be in time for the show of hands. Hurrah! I've a'mind to write to Jemmy, to buy up all the rotten eggs in Fern Torr.'
'You wild animal! But do be sensible a little while, Gerald, for I have something serious to ask your advice upon.'
'Well,'--and all the wisdom of sixteen was at her service.
'I want to know what you think about my living here, or at Fern Torr?'
'Hollo! why I thought it was settled long ago that you were to live at the Quarry with them.'
'So it was; but I don't know whether I am not more wanted here than there.'
'You don't mean that that have changed their mind, and don't want to have you?'
'Not a bit--O dear, no! but I think, somehow, Clara and Lionel find me of more use than they would.'
'To be sure, this place would be in a pretty tolerable sort of a mess without you. I don't know how any of them would get on.'
'Well, then, I wanted your opinion, Gerald; I had better tell Edmund and Agnes that I ought to stay on here.'
'But what am I to do? I mean to be at Fern Torr in the holidays, I assure you, except a week or two, just to see Lionel; and I don't mean to have my holidays without you, I declare!'
'O, I hope always to come home for them.'
