"Would you _like_?
would not it be too much trouble ?" "Not at all! not at all!" reply I, affably.

"How soon, then ?" (taking out my watch); "in half an hour ?" Again his face falls a little.
"I think it must be longer than _that_, Nancy." "An hour, then ?" say I, lifting a lengthened countenance wistfully to his; "people may do a good deal in an hour, may not they ?" "Had not we better be on the safe side, and say an hour and a half ?" suggests he, but somewhat apprehensively--or I imagine so.

"I shall be sure not to keep you a minute then--I do not relish the notion of my wife's tramping up and down this muddy road all by herself." "And I do not relish the notion of my husband--" return I, beginning to speak very fast, and then suddenly breaking off--"Well, good-by!" "Say, good-by, Roger," cries he, catching my hand in detention, as I turn away.

"Nancy, if you knew how fond I have grown of my own name! In despite of Tichborne, I think it _lovely_." I laugh.
"Good-by, _Roger_!" He has opened the gate, and turned in.

I watch him, as he walks with long, quick steps, up the little, trim swept drive.