‘Emily never going to be married?’ exclaimed Mrs. Hood, half seriously. ‘Ah, you mustn’t believe all Emily tells you.’
‘Oh, she hasn’t told me that herself, but I’m quite sure she would be offended if any one thought her capable of such frivolity.’
‘Emily will keep it to herself till the wedding-day,’ said Geraldine, with a mocking shake of the bead. ‘She isn’t one to go telling her secrets.’
At this point Hood made his appearance. His wife paid no heed to him as he entered; Emily glanced at him furtively. He had the look of a man who has predetermined an attitude of easy good-humour, nor had the parting with Cheeseman failed to prove an occasion for fresh recourse to that fiery adjuvant which of a sudden was become indispensable to him. Want of taste for liquor and lifelong habit of ab
