‘Eh?’ he repeated, after a moment’s pause, lengthening out the monosyllable, taking a slow pinch, and looking up at Maynard with a sly smile.

‘I’m not quite sure that I understand you, sir,’ answered Mr. Gilfil, who felt annoyed at the consciousness that he was turning pale.

’Not understand me, you rogue?  You know very well whose happiness lies nearest to my heart after Anthony’s.  You know you let me into your secrets long ago, so there’s no confession to make.  Tina’s quite old enough to be a grave little wife now; and though the Rectory’s not ready for you, that’s no matter.  My lady and I shall feel all the more comfortable for having you with us.  We should miss our little singing-bird if we lost her all at once.’

Mr. Gilfil felt himself in a painfully difficult position.  He dreaded that Sir Christopher should surmise or discover the true state of Caterina’s feelings, and yet he was obliged to make those feelings the ground of his reply.

‘My dear sir,’ he at last said with some effort, ’you will not suppose that I am not alive to your goodness—­that I am not grateful for your fatherly interest in my happiness; but I fear that Caterina’s feelings towards me are not such as to warrant the hope that she would accept a proposal of marriage from me.’

‘Have you ever asked her?’

‘No, sir.  But we often know these things too well without asking.’

’Pooh, pooh! the little monkey must love you.  Why, you were her first playfellow; and I remember she used to cry if you cut your finger.  Besides, she has always silently admitted that you were her lover.  You know I have always spoken of you to her in that light.  I took it for granted you had settled the business between yourselves; so did Anthony.  Anthony thinks she’s in love with you, and he has young eyes, which are apt enough to see clearly in these matters.  He was talking to me about it this morning, and pleased me very much by the friendly interest he showed in you and Tina.’

The blood—­more than was wanted—­rushed back to Mr. Gilfil’s face; he set his teeth and clenched his hands in the effort to repress a burst of indignation.  Sir Christopher noticed the flush, but thought it indicated the fluctuation of hope and fear about Caterina.  He went on:—­’You’re too modest by half, Maynard.  A fellow who can take a five-barred gate as you can, ought not to be so faint-hearted.  If you can’t speak to her yourself, leave me to talk to her.’

‘Sir Christopher,’ said poor Maynard earnestly, ’I shall really feel it the greatest kindness you can possibly show me not to mention this subject to Caterina at present.  I think such a proposal, made prematurely, might only alienate her from me.’

Sir Christopher was getting a little displeased at this contradiction.  His tone became a little sharper as he said, ’Have you any grounds to state for this opinion, beyond your general notion that Tina is not enough in love with you?’