"You haven't said how we're going to get married." "I'm going to get the licence the other end, and we're going to be married to-morrow." "Are you sure we can get married to-morrow?" "Of course I'm sure." "In church?" "In church; in St. Paul's Cathedral if you like; though to arrange that might take a little longer." "I don't want to be married in St. Paul's Cathedral; I want to be married quietly." "That's what I want; so there we are agreed; hooray!" This cry of jubilation was uttered in a sepulchral whisper. "Now you quite understand? Trap's coming in half-an-hour; you're to be ready; you're going to meet me at the station; we're going to elope; we're going together to get the licence; and to-morrow we're going to be married together; is that perfectly clear?" "Don't be silly! Are you glad?" "What for?" "That we're going to be married; you know!" "Of course I'm glad; how do you want me to show it? would you like me to stand on my head and dance?" "No; I only want to know you're glad." "You wait; you shall have all the knowledge you feel you stand in need of." "Herbert!" CHAPTER XVII NORA GOES When Elaine brought back her head into the room, the window was closed, Mr. Nash had vanished; the young lady was in such a state of palpitation, that for some seconds she was incapable of continuing the operation of packing, conscious though she was of how time was pressing. Half-an-hour is not long. She was not yet fully dressed; it seemed that now she was to dress to meet her lover, to elope with him; if she had known that before she would have arrayed herself in some quite different garments. There was no time to change now; it was out of the question. Really, there was not time even to finish packing properly; her things would have to be squashed in anyhow; if she could get them in at all she would have to be content. There was one comfort, she would buy herself an entirely new outfit when she had once got clear away. Herbert need not think--no one need think--that she was going to do without a trousseau; she was not. She was going to have a proper trousseau; a complete trousseau. Only it seemed that in her case the various articles would have to be purchased after marriage instead of before; but she would have them.