As soon as the carriage had left the house, Wilfrid sought his father, who was amusing himself with a review.
'I thought you would have gone with your aunt,' Mr.Athel remarked, after a glance to see who was approaching him.
'I had an object in remaining behind,' Wilfrid returned, composedly, seating himself on a camp-stool which he had brought out.

'I wished to talk over with you a matter of some importance.' 'Oh ?' Mr.Athel stroked his chin, and smiled a little.

It occurred to him at once that something relative to Beatrice was about to be disclosed.
'What is it ?' he added, throwing one leg over the other, and letting the review lie open on his lap.
'It concerns Miss Hood,' pursued the other, assuming the same attitude, save that he had nothing to lean hack against.

'A day or two ago I asked her to engage herself to me, and she consented.' Perhaps this was the simplest way of putting it.

Wilfrid could not utter the words with complete calmness; his hands had begun to tremble a little, and his temples were hot.