God grant the partner of that home may be worthy of his choice, and make it a happy one--such a home as he deserves to have! And how delightful it would be to--' But no matter what I thought.
I began this book with the intention of concealing nothing; that those who liked might have the benefit of perusing a fellow-creature's heart: but we have some thoughts that all the angels in heaven are welcome to behold, but not our brother-men--not even the best and kindest amongst them.
By this time the Greens had taken themselves to their own abode, and the Murrays had turned down the private road, whither I hastened to follow them.

I found the two girls warm in an animated discussion on the respective merits of the two young officers; but on seeing me Rosalie broke off in the middle of a sentence to exclaim, with malicious glee-- 'Oh-ho, Miss Grey! you're come at last, are you?
No _wonder_ you lingered so long behind; and no _wonder_ you always stand up so vigorously for Mr.Weston when I abuse him.

Ah-ha! I see it all now!' 'Now, come, Miss Murray, don't be foolish,' said I, attempting a good-natured laugh; 'you know such nonsense can make no impression on me.' But she still went on talking such intolerable stuff--her sister helping her with appropriate fiction coined for the occasion--that I thought it necessary to say something in my own justification.
'What folly all this is!' I exclaimed.

'If Mr.Weston's road happened to be the same as mine for a few yards, and if he chose to exchange a word or two in passing, what is there so remarkable in that?
I assure you, I never spoke to him before: except once.' 'Where?
where?
and when ?' cried they eagerly.
'In Nancy's cottage.' 'Ah-ha! you've met him there, have you ?' exclaimed Rosalie, with exultant laughter.

'Ah! now, Matilda, I've found out why she's so fond of going to Nancy Brown's! She goes there to flirt with Mr.Weston.' 'Really, that is not worth contradicting--I only saw him there once, I tell you--and how could I know he was coming ?' Irritated as I was at their foolish mirth and vexatious imputations, the uneasiness did not continue long: when they had had their laugh out, they returned again to the captain and lieutenant; and, while they disputed and commented upon them, my indignation rapidly cooled; the cause of it was quickly forgotten, and I turned my thoughts into a pleasanter channel.