‘I should not like to call you an ass, Redgie,’ said Phyllis. ‘Very likely; but do not make me call you one. Hurrah! Now ask Marianne if it is not so. Marianne must know. How jolly! I say, Phyl, stay there, and I will fetch Marianne.’ Away ran Reginald, and presently returned with Marianne, who was very glad to be invited to join Phyllis. She little knew what an examination awaited her. ‘Marianne,’ began Phyllis, ‘I’ll tell you what—’ ‘No, I will do it right,’ said Reginald; ‘you know nothing about it, Phyl. Marianne, is not something going on there?’ ‘Going on?’ said Marianne, ‘Alethea is speaking to Mrs. Hawkesworth.’ ‘Nonsense, I know better, Marianne. I have a suspicion that I could tell what the Captain was about yesterday when he walked off after dinner.’ ‘How very wise you think you look, Reginald!’ said Marianne, laughing heartily. ‘But tell us; do tell us, Marianne,’ said Phyllis. ‘Tell you whet?’ ‘Whether William is going to marry Miss Weston,’ said the straightforward Phyllis. ‘Redgie says so—only tell us. Oh! it would be so nice!’ ‘How you blurt it out, Phyl,’ said Reginald. ‘You do not know how those things are managed. Mind, I found it out all myself. Just say, Marianne. Am not I right?’ ‘I do not know whether I ought to tell,’ said Marianne. ‘Oh! then it is all right,’ said Reginald, ‘and I found it out. Now, Marianne, there is a good girl, tell us all about it.’ ‘You know I could not say “No” when you asked me,’ said Marianne; ‘I could not help it really; but pray do not tell anybody, or Captain Mohun will not like it.’ ‘Does any one know?’ said Reginald. ‘Only ourselves and Mr. Mohun; and I think Lord Rotherwood guesses, from something I heard him say to Jane.’ ‘To Jane?’ said Reginald. ‘That is provoking; she will think she found it out all herself, and be so conceited!’ ‘You need not be afraid,’ said Marianne, laughing; ‘Jane is on a wrong scent.’ ‘Jane? Oh! I should like to see her out in her reckonings! I should like to have a laugh against her. What does she think, Marianne?’ ‘Oh! I cannot tell you; it is too bad.’ ‘Oh! do; do, pray. You may whisper it if it is too bad for Phyllis to hear.’ ‘No, no,’ said Marianne; ‘it is nothing but nonsense. If you hear it, Phyllis shall too; but mind, you must promise not to say anything to anybody, or I do not know what will become of me.’ ‘Well, we will not,’ said Reginald; ‘boys can always keep secrets, and I’ll engage for Phyl. Now for it.’ ‘She is in a terrible fright lest it should be Mr. Mohun. She got it into her head last autumn, and all I could say would not persuade her out of it. Why, she always calls me Aunt Marianne when we are alone. Now, Reginald, here comes Maurice. Do not say anything, I beg and entreat. It is my secret, you know. I daresay you will all be told to-morrow,—indeed, mamma said so,—but pray say nothing about me or Jane. It was only settled yesterday evening.’