“But,” gasped the astonished Mr. Sharp, “how did you?”

“Aunt heard him,” said Miss Garland.  “She was just going into the room when she caught a word or two, and she stayed outside and listened.  You don’t know what a lot she thinks of you.”

Mr. Sharp’s eyes opened wider than ever.  “I thought she didn’t like me,” he said, slowly.

“Good gracious!” said Miss Garland.  “Whatever could have put such an idea as that into your head?  Of course, aunt isn’t always going to let uncle see that she agrees with him.  Still, as if anybody could help—­” she murmured to herself.

“Eh?” said the young man, in a trembling voice.

“Nothing.”

Miss Garland walked along with averted face; Mr. Sharp, his pulses bounding, trod on air beside her.

“I thought,” he said, at last “I thought that Jack Butler was a favourite of hers?”

“Jack Butler!” said the girl, in tones of scornful surprise.  “The idea!  How blind men are; you’re all alike, I think.  You can’t see two inches in front of you.  She’s as pleased as possible that you are coming on Wednesday; and so am—­”

Mr. Sharp caught his breath.  “Yes?” he murmured.

“Let’s go down here,” said Miss Garland quickly; “down by the river.  And I’ll tell you what we want you to do.”

She placed her hand lightly on his arm, and Mr. Sharp, with a tremulous smile, obeyed.  The smile faded gradually as he listened, and an expression of anxious astonishment took its place.  He shook his head as she proceeded, and twice ventured a faint suggestion that she was only speaking in jest.  Convinced at last, against his will, he walked on in silent consternation.

“But,” he said at last, as Miss Garland paused for breath, “your uncle would never forgive me.  He’d never let me come near the house again.”

“Aunt will see to that,” said the girl, confidently.  “But, of course, if you don’t wish to please me—­”

She turned away, and Mr. Sharp, plucking up spirit, ventured to take her hand and squeeze it.  A faint, a very faint, squeeze in return decided him.

“It will come all right afterwards,” said Miss Garland, “especially with the hold it will give aunt over him.”

“I hope so,” said the young man.  “If not, I shall be far—­farther off than ever.”

Miss Garland blushed and, turning her head, gazed steadily at the river.

“Trust me,” she said at last.  “Me and auntie.”

Mr. Sharp said that so long as he pleased her nothing else mattered, and, in the seventh heaven of delight, paced slowly along the towpath by her side.

“And you mustn’t mind what auntie and I say to you,” said the girl, continuing her instructions.  “We must keep up appearances, you know; and if we seem to be angry, you must remember we are only pretending.”

Mr. Sharp, with a tender smile, said that he understood perfectly.