What an exchange! Only had
Griff ever comprehended the worth of his treasure?
Emily went as late as she could, that there might be the less chance
of a tete-a-tete, in which she might be surprised into a betrayal of
her secret: indeed she only started at last when Martyn's
impatience had become intolerable.
What was our amazement when, much earlier than we expected, we saw
Mr. Fordyce driving up in his phaeton, and heard the story he had to
tell.
Emily's delay had succeeded in bringing her only just in time for
the luncheon that was to be the children's dinner. There was a
keen-looking, active, sallow clergyman, grizzled, and with an air of
having seen much service; a pale, worn wife, with a gentle, sensible
face; and a bewildering flock of boys and girls, all apparently
under the command of a very brisk, effective-looking elder sister of
fourteen or fifteen, who seemed to be the readiest authority, and to
decide what and how much each might partake of, among delicacies,
evidently rare novelties.
The day was late in August. The summer had broken; there had been
rain, and, though fine, the temperature was fitter for active sports
than anything else. Croquet was not yet invented, and, besides,
most of the party were of the age for regular games at play. Ellen
and Emily did their part in starting these--finding, however, that
the Reynolds boys were rather rough, in spite of the objurgations of
their sister, who evidently thought herself quite beyond the age for
romps.
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