It is doubtful whether the scheme to surprise and delight Mr.Pericles would have actuated the step they took, but for the dread of seeing the rapacious Tinleys snatch up their lawful prey.

The Tinleys were known to be quite capable of doing so.

They had, on a particular occasion, made transparent overtures to a celebrity belonging to the Poles, whom they had first met at Brookfield: could never have hoped to have seen had they not met him at Brookfield; and girls who behaved in this way would do anything.

The resolution was taken to steal a march on them; nor did it seem at all odd to people naturally so hospitable as the denizens of Brookfield, that the stranger of yesterday should be the guest of to-day.

Kindness of heart, combined with a great scheme in the brain, easily put aside conventional rules.
"But we don't know her name," they said, when they had taken the advice of the gentlemen on what they had already decided to do: all excepting Mr.Pericles, for whom the surprise was in store.
"Belloni--Miss Belloni," said Wilfrid.
"Are you sure?
How do you know-- ?" "She told Laura Tinley." Within five minutes of the receipt of this intelligence the ladies were on their way to Wilson's farm..