"I shall hardly be six-and-twenty then, which is not at all too old." And so the evening passed away very pleasantly.
"God bless you, Adolphus!" Mrs Dale said to him, as she parted with him at her own door.

It was the first time that she had called him by his Christian name.

"I hope you understand how much we are trusting to you." "I do,--I do," said he, as he pressed her hand.

Then as he walked back alone, he swore to himself, binding himself to the oath with all his heart, that he would be true to those women,--both to the daughter and to the mother; for the solemnity of the morning was still upon him.
He was to start the next morning before eight, Bernard having undertaken to drive him over to the railway at Guestwick.

The breakfast was on the table shortly after seven; and just as the two men had come down, Lily entered the room, with her hat and shawl.