"You should meet each other." Denham's one wish was to leave the house as soon as he could; but the elderly ladies had risen, and were proposing to visit Mrs.Hilbery in her bedroom, so that any move on his part was impossible.

At the same time, he wished to say something, but he knew not what, to Katharine alone.

She took her aunts upstairs, and returned, coming towards him once more with an air of innocence and friendliness that amazed him.
"My father will be back," she said.

"Won't you sit down ?" and she laughed, as if now they might share a perfectly friendly laugh at the tea-party.
But Ralph made no attempt to seat himself.
"I must congratulate you," he said.

"It was news to me." He saw her face change, but only to become graver than before.
"My engagement ?" she asked.