"One word, Miss Coventry," pleaded the Squire with a shaking voice. "Have I your permission to call upon Lady Horsingham to-morrow?" I said I thought my aunt would be at home, and expressed my conviction that she would be delighted to see him, and I wished him good-bye. "Good-bye, Miss Coventry, good-bye," said the Squire, shaking hands with a squeeze that crushed my favourite ring into my prettiest finger; "you have made me _the happiest of men_--good-bye!" I saw it all in an instant, just as I see it now. The Squire means to propose for me to-morrow, and he thinks I have accepted him. What _shall_ I do? _Mrs. Haycock_--Kate Haycock--Catherine Haycock. No, I can't make it look well, write it how I will; and then, to vow never to think of any one else; I suppose I mightn't even _speak_ to Frank. Never, no, never; but what a scrape I have got into, and how I wish to-morrow was over! CHAPTER XIII. My diary continued,-- _Saturday._--Well, it is over at last; and upon my word I begin to think I am capable of anything after all I have got through to-day since breakfast. Scarcely had I finished the slice of toast and single cup of tea that constitute my morning meal, before I heard the tramp of a horse on the gravel in front of the house, followed by the ominous sound of the door-bell. I have remarked that in all country families a ring at the door-bell brings everybody's heart into everybody's mouth. Aunt Horsingham, brooding over the teapot as usual, had been in her worst of humours ever since she came down, and tried to look as if no bell that ever was cast had power to move her grim resolve. "A message by electric telegraph," exclaimed Cousin Amelia, who is always anticipating some catastrophe; "no visitor would ever call at such a time." "Unless he came to propose for one of us," suggested John, who was carving a ham at the side-table. "Some one on business for _me_, probably," remarked Aunt Horsingham, drawing herself up and looking more stately than usual. "Mr. Haycock!" announced the butler, throwing open the door with a flourish; and while all our untimely visitor's preparations, such as wiping his shoes, arranging his dress, etc., were distinctly audible outside, we looked at each other in mute astonishment, and I own I _did_ feel the guilty one amongst the party.