"I wanted to wait and make it a wedding present," said the Mayor, with a wink, "but the Squire thinks we had better not wait for that."
"Though what Mr. Bannister's waitin' for I can't see; and I said as much to Miss Janet when I met her in the garden."
"What did she say?" asked Philip in some curiosity.
"Well, sir, now you ask me, I don't think she said anything. She seemed a bit put-out like about something."
"It couldn't have been anything you said?"
"Why, no, sir. I only said as I shouldn't be slow to move if a young lady like Miss Fane was waitin' for me--and her havin' saved my life, too."
"You'll see Miss Fane about it? She hasn't left the Colonel's."
"Oh, yes, I suppose so. Yes, I'll see her."
Dale had gone to London, alleging that he had shopping to do, and hardly denying that his business would lie chiefly at the jeweler's. Philip was glad that he was away, for he thus could start on his mission unquestioned. He found Nellie at home, and at once plunged into the matter. Directly Nellie understood what was proposed, she jumped up, crying:
"Oh, no, they mustn't. You must stop them."
"I won't have it! I can't have it! You must tell them, Mr. Hume."
"It'll look rather ungracious, won't it? Why shouldn't you take their present?" he asked, looking at her in a half-amused way.
"Oh, no, no! You don't understand. Oh, what a wretched girl I am!" and Nellie, flinging herself in a chair, began to cry.
He sat and watched her with a grim smile, which he made an effort to maintain. But the sobs were rather piteous, and the smile gradually became very mildly ferocious, and presently vanished altogether. Presently, also, Nellie stopped crying, sat up, and stared in front of her with a dazed look and parted lips.
"Is that all you have to say?" he asked in a tone of disappointment.
"Yes," she answered, plucking nervously at her handkerchief, "that's all."
"Tell them that there's nothing to give me a testimonial for."
Nellie glanced at him with a start, but in an instant she recovered herself.
"I mean that I would much rather no more fuss was made about what I did."
"As you please," he said coldly. "I will tell the Mayor, and get him to stop the thing."
"Is Dale at home?" she asked, as Philip rose.