They could not deny it on the spur of the moment, though subsequently, when the cook was absent, they compared experiences, and came to the conclusion that the statement should be modified in order to be wholly accurate.
The next day Agnes was overtaken in the village by Sir Percival Hope. She could not understand why it was that her face should flush on seeing him; it made her feel uncomfortable for a few moments, and then the strange thought crossed her mind that he was about to tax her with having told him that she and Claude Westwood were to be married. Sir Percival had certainly looked narrowly at her for some time. But then he had begun to talk upon some general topic of engrossing local interest--the curate's health, or something of that sort. (The curate lived on the reputation of having a weak chest, and every autumn his chest became a topic in the neighbourhood.)
It was not until Sir Percival had walked back with her almost to the entrance to The Knoll that he said very quietly:
“Happy--happy?” she said, interrogatively.
“Happy in the prospect of happiness,” said he. “I suppose that is the simplest way of putting the matter.”
She was silent for a long time, until she came to perceive that the silence meant far more than she intended. That was why she cried rather quickly:
“You have seen him--Claude--you have conversed with him?”
“Yes. He came to see me yesterday,” replied Sir Percival. “Great heavens! What that man has gone through. He deserves his happiness--the greatest happiness that any man dare hope for.”
“Ah, I meant that he should be so happy,” she cried, and there was something piteous in her tone.
“And you will make him happy,” said her companion. “When a woman makes up her mind on this particular point, a man cannot help himself. His most strenuous efforts in the other direction count for nothing. He will be made happy in spite of himself.”
She turned her eyes upon him inquiringly.
“You heard him speak--you heard the way he talks on that terrible matter?”
“Yes; that was how it came about that he visited me. He wanted me to tell him all that I knew on the subject--he was anxious to have the scene in the Assize Court described to him by some new voice. He wished to know if I signed a petition for the reprieve of the murderer, and when I told him no petition had been signed, but that the Home Secretary had reprieved the man after, I supposed, consultation with the judge who tried the case, and with the law officers for the Crown, he seemed to be overcome with astonishment and indignation.”