She will understand what that means without any word of love." "Can I do anything for her,--or for her father; I mean in the way of--money?
I don't mind mentioning it to you, Miss Prettyman." "I will tell her that you are ready to do it, if anything can be done.

For myself I feel no doubt that the mystery will be cleared up at last; and then, if you will come here, we shall be so glad to see you .-- I shall, at least." Then the major went, and Miss Prettyman herself actually descended with him into the hall, and bade him farewell most affectionately before her sister and two of the maids who came out to open the door.
Miss Anne Prettyman, when she saw the great friendship with which the major was dismissed, could not contain herself, but asked most impudent questions, in a whisper indeed, but in such a whisper that any sharp-eared maid-servant could hear and understand them.

"Is it settled," she asked when her sister had ascended only the first flight of stairs;--"has he popped ?" The look with which the elder sister punished and dismayed the younger, I would not have borne for twenty pounds.

She simply looked, and said nothing, but passed on.
When she had regained her room she rang the bell, and desired the servant to ask Miss Crawley to be good enough to step to her.

Poor Miss Anne retired discomforted into the solitude of one of the lower rooms, and sat for some minutes all alone, recovering from the shock of her sister's anger.