“No, Nelly, I couldnt endure that sort of existence.  If people cannot remain friends they should separate at once.  I will not sleep in this house to-night.”

“Hurrah!” cried Miss McQuinch.  “That will be beginning the war with spirit.  If I were in your place, I would stay and fight it out at close quarters.  I would make myself so disagreeable that nobody can imagine what life in this house would be.  But your plan is the best—­if you really mean it.”

“Certainly I mean it.  Where shall we go, Nelly?”

“Hm!  I am afraid none of the family would make us very comfortable under the circumstances, except Marmaduke.  It would be a splendid joke to go to West Kensington; only it would tell as much against us and Ned as against the Roman father.  I have it!  We will go to Mrs. Toplis’s in St. Mary’s Terrace:  my mother always stays there when she is in town.  Mrs. Toplis knows us:  if she has a room to spare she will give it to us without making any bother.”

“Yes, that will do.  Are you ready to come now?”

“If you can possibly wait five minutes I should like to put on my hat and change my boots.  We will have to come back and pack up when we have settled about the room.  We cannot go without clothes.  I should like to have a nightdress, at least.  Have you any money?”

“I have the housekeeping money; but that, of course, I shall not take.  I have thirty pounds of my own.”

“And I have my old stocking, which contains nearly seventeen.  Say fifty in round numbers.  That will keep us going very comfortably for a month.”

“Ridiculous!  It will last longer than that.  Oh!”

“Well?”

“We mustnt go, after all.  I forgot you.”

“What of me?”

“Where will you go when I am married?  You cant live by yourself; and papa may not welcome you back if you take my part against him.”

“He would not, in any case; so it makes no difference to me.  I can go home if the worst comes to the worst.  It does not matter:  my present luxurious existence must come to an end some time or another, whether we go to Mrs. Toplis’s or not.”

“I am sure Ned will not object to your continuing with me, if I ask him.”

“No, poor fellow!  He wont object—­at first; but he might not like it.  You have no right to inflict me on him.  No:  I stick to my resolution on that point.  Send for the carriage.  It is time for us to be off; and Mrs. Toplis will be more impressed if we come in state than if we trudge afoot.”

“Hush,” said Marian, who was standing near the window.  “Here is George, with a face full of importance.”

“Uncle Reginald has written to him,” said Elinor.

“Then the sooner we go, the better,” said Marian.

“I do not care to have the whole argument over again with George.”

As they passed through the hall on their way out they met the clergyman.