"Yes, I know it. One knows everything that anybody else knows in a small village like Wendover."
"You do not know when Mr. Lytton and Miss Cavendish are to be married?"
"No, because I do not think they know themselves. But the people say it will be as soon as the young gentleman gets settled in his practice."
"Good again! The delay is favorable," muttered Mary Grey to herself.
"What did you say?" again inquired the ingenuous young man.
"And now tell me about the others," said Mrs. Grey.
But her lover took her hand and gazed into her face, murmuring:
"Oh, my love, my life, let me sit here and hold your thrilling little hand and gaze into your beautiful eyes, and think only of you for a moment!"
She put her hand around his head and drew it toward her and pressed a kiss upon his forehead, and then said:
"There! Now you will go on for me, will you not?"
"I would die for you!" he earnestly exclaimed.
"I would rather you would live for me, you mad boy!" she answered, smiling archly.
"Then answer my questions. Is it also true that Mr. Lyle and Miss Lytton are to be married?"
"Oh, yes! That is certain. Their engagement is announced. There is no secret about that."
"Well, there is a slight obstacle to their immediate union."
"An old school-girl compact between Miss Cavendish and Miss Lytton, in which they promised each other that they would both be married on the same day or never at all."
"Why do they not break it by mutual consent?"
"Because mutual consent can not be had. Miss Cavendish indeed offers to release Miss Lytton from her promise; but Miss Lytton refuses to be released. And although her clerical lover presses her to name an earlier day, she will name no other than the day upon which Miss Cavendish also weds, be that day sooner or later."
"So it is settled that they will be married upon the same day?"
"Everything is known in a little country town like Wendover, as I said before."
"They will be married the same day. Better and better. If I had arranged it all myself it could not be better for my plans," muttered Mary Grey to herself.
"What did you say?" inquired Craven Kyte.
"I say I think, upon the whole, the arrangement is a good one."
"Oh, yes; certainly!" admitted the young man.
"Where are you stopping, Craven?" softly inquired Mrs. Grey.