In the great hall a sudden thought struck the squire; and he stood still, and looked in Charlotte’s face.  “You are sure that you want to go, my dear?  Won’t you be missed?  Eh?  What?”

She clasped his hand tighter, and shook her head very positively.  “They don’t want me, father.  I am in the way.”

He did not answer until they had walked some distance; then he asked meaningly, “Has it come to that?  Eh?  What?”

“Yes, it has come to that.”

“I am very glad it isn’t you.  And I’m nettled at myself for ever showing him a road to slight you, Charlotte.”

“If there is any slight between Julius and me, father, I gave it; for he asked me to marry him, and I plainly told him no.”

“Hear—­you—­but.  I am glad.  You refused him?  Come, come, that’s a bit of pleasure I would have given a matter of five pounds to have known a day or two since.  It would have saved me a few good ratings.  Eh?  What?”

“Why, father!  Who has been rating you?”

“Myself, to be sure.  You can’t think what set-downs I have given William Sandal.  Do you mind telling me about that refusal, Charlotte?  Eh?  What?”

“Not a bit.  It was in the harvest-field.  He said he loved me, and I told him gentlemen did not talk that way to girls who had never given them the least encouragement; and I said I did not love him, and never, never could love him.  I was very firm, father, perhaps a little bit cross; for I did not like the way he spoke.  I don’t think he admires me at all now.”

“I dare be bound he doesn’t.  ‘Firm and a little bit cross.’  It wouldn’t be a nice five minutes for Julius.  He sets a deal of store by himself;” and then, as if he thought it was his duty not to show too much gratification, he added, “I hope you were very civil, Charlotte.  A good asker should have a good nay-say.  And you refused him?  Well, I am pleased.  Mother never heard tell of it?  Eh?  What?”

“Oh, no; I have told no one but you.  At the long end you always get at my secrets, father.”

“We’ve had a goodish few together,—­fishing secrets, and such like; but I must tell mother this one, eh?  She will go on about it.  In the harvest-field, was it?  I understand now why he walked himself off a day or two before the set day.  And he is all for Sophia now, is he?  Well, I shouldn’t wonder if Sophia will ‘best’ him a little on every side.  You have given me a turn, Charlotte.  I didn’t think of a son-in-law yet,—­not just yet.  Dear me!  How life does go on!  Ever since the sheep-shearing it has been running away with me.  Life is a road on which there is no turning round, Charlotte.  Oh, if there only were!  If you could just run back to where you made the wrong turning!  If you could only undo things that you have done!  Eh?  What?”

“Not even God can make what has been, not to have been.  When a thing is done, if it is only the taking of a walk, the walk is taken to all eternity.”