"I believe the old dowager would like to see her daughter
mistress of Hartledon: and suppose she gave utterance to her thoughts."
"Very strange that she should!" observed Mrs. Ashton.
"I think she's a little cracked sometimes," coughed Val; and, in truth,
he now and then did think so. "I hope you have not told Anne?"
"I have told no one. And had I not felt sure it had no foundation, I
should have told the doctor, not you. But Anne was in the room when Mrs.
Graves mentioned it."
"What a blessing it would be if Mrs. Graves were out of the parish!"
exclaimed Val, hotly. "I wonder Dr. Ashton keeps Graves on, with such a
mother! No one ever had such a mischief-making tongue as hers."
"Percival, may I say something to you?" asked Mrs. Ashton, who was
devouring him with her eyes. "Your manner would almost lead me to believe
that there _is_ something in it. Tell me the truth; I can never be
anything but your friend."
"Believe one thing, dear Mrs. Ashton--that I have no intention of
marrying anyone but Anne; and I wish with all my heart and soul you'd
give her to me to-day. Shut up with those two women, the one pretty, the
other watching any chance word to turn it to her own use, I dare say the
Mrs. Graveses of the place have talked, forgetting that Maude is my
cousin. I believe I paid some attention to Maude because I was angry
at being kept out of the Rectory; but my attentions meant nothing, upon
my honour.
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