“Most happy!” ejaculated Henry.
“Perhaps I should not have used that word.”
“I am sure you should not,” said Henry, “when you speak of me.”
“Well—well; let us hope that the time may not be very far distant when I may use the term happy, as applied to you, in the most conclusive and the strongest manner it can be used.”
“Oh,” said Henry, “I will hope; but do not mock me with it now, Marchdale, I pray you.”
“Heaven forbid that I should mock you!”
“Well—well; I do not believe you are the man to do so to any one. But about this affair of the house.”
“Distinctly, then, if I were you, I would call upon Sir Francis Varney, and make him an offer to become a tenant of the Hall for twelve months, during which time you could go where you please, and test the fact of absence ridding you or not
