To his surprise, Miriam strenuously opposed his going to the Bannister house on any pretence until Mr.Bannister had called upon him, and showed so much earnest feeling on the subject that he relinquished his intention.

He could see for himself that it would not be the proper thing to do; and so he waited, with more impatience on rainy days than others, for Mr.Herbert Bannister to call upon him.
On nearly every morning of the two weeks, Dora asked her brother at breakfast time if he were going that day to call at Cobhurst; and every time she asked him, Herbert answered that he would go that day, if he possibly could; but on each evening he informed her that at the hour he had intended to start for Cobhurst a client or clients had come into the office, or a client or clients had been in the office and had remained there.

A very busy man was Mr.Bannister.
Miriam's opinion on the subject had been varied.

She frequently felt in her lonely moments that it would be a joy to see Dora Bannister drive in at the gate.
"If only," thought Miriam, with a sigh, "she would content herself to be a visitor to me, just as I would be to her, and not go about contriving things she thinks Ralph would like,--as if it were necessary that any one should come here and do that! As for going to her house, that would leave poor Ralph here all by himself, or else he would be there a good deal, and--" Here a happy thought struck Miriam.
"I can't go, anyway," she said aloud, "for the gig is broken;" and, her brother coming in at that moment, she informed him, with an air of much relief, how the matter had settled itself.
"But I don't like matters to settle themselves in that way," said Ralph.
"The gig should certainly be in order by this time.

I will go myself and see the man about it, and if the new shafts are not finished, I can hire a carriage for you.