’I know your name very well, Major Grantly.  My brother-in-law who lives down yonder, Mr Dale, knows your father very well—­or he did some years ago.  And I have heard him say that he remembers you.’

’I recollect.  He used to be staying at Ullathorne.  But that is a long time ago.  Is he at home now?’

’Mr Dale is almost always at home.  He very rarely goes away, and I am sure would be glad to see you.’

Then there was a little pause in the conversation.  They had managed to seat themselves, and Mrs Dale had said enough to put her visitor fairly at his ease.  If he had anything special to say to her, he must say it—­any request or proposition to make as to Grace Crawley, he must make it.  And he did make it at once.  ‘My object in coming to Allington,’ he said, ‘was to see Miss Crawley.’

’She and my daughter have taken a long walk to call on a friend, and I am afraid they will stay for lunch; but they will certainly be home between three and four, if that is not too long for you to remain at Allington.’

‘Oh, dear, no,’ said he.  ‘It will not hurt me to wait.’

’It certainly will not hurt me, Major Grantly.  Perhaps you will lunch with me?’

’I’ll tell you what, Mrs Dale; if you’ll permit me, I’ll explain to you why I have come here.  Indeed, I have intended to do so all through, and I can only ask you to keep my secret, if after all it should require to be kept.’

‘I will certainly keep any secret that you may ask me to keep,’ said Mrs Dale, taking off her bonnet.

‘I hope there may be no need of one,’ said Major Grantly.  ’The truth is, Mrs Dale, that I have known Grace Crawley for some time—­nearly for two years now, and—­I may as well speak it out at once—­I have made up my mind to ask her to be my wife.  That is why I am here.’  Considering the nature of the statement, which must have been embarrassing, I think that it was made with fluency and simplicity.

’Of course, Major Grantly, you know that I have no authority with our young friend,’ said Mrs Dale.  ’I mean that she is not connected with us by family ties.  She has a father and mother, living, as I believe, in the same county as yourself.’

‘I know that, Mrs Dale.’

’And you may, perhaps, understand that, as Miss Crawley is now staying with me, I owe it in a measure to her friends to ask you whether they are aware of your intention.’

‘They are not aware of it.’

‘I know that at the present moment they are in great trouble.’

Mrs Dale was going on, but she was interrupted by Major Grantly.  ’That is just it,’ he said.  ’There are circumstances at present which make it almost impossible that I should go to Mr Crawley and ask his permission to address his daughter.  I do not know whether you have heard the whole story?’

‘As much, I believe, as Grace could tell me.’