’I don’t think I ought to tell you anything about it.  It is a secret, just as much as your mysteries are.’

’Very well; you have told me enough for me to act upon, which I most certainly shall do.  It was only the other day I promised the squire to let him know if I suspected anything—­any love affair, or entanglement, much less an engagement, between either of his sons and our girls.’

’But this is not an engagement; he would not let it be so; if you would only listen to me, I could tell you all.  Only I do hope you won’t go and tell the squire and everybody.  Cynthia did so beg that it might not be known.  It is only my unfortunate frankness has led me into this scrape.  I never could keep a secret from those whom I love.’

’I must tell the squire.  I shall not mention it to any one else.  And do you quite think it was consistent with your general frankness to have overheard what you did, and never to have mentioned it to me?  I could have told you then that Dr Nicholls’ opinion was decidedly opposed to mine, and that he believed and believes that the disturbance about which I consulted him on Osborne’s behalf was merely temporary.  Dr Nicholls would tell you that Osborne is as likely as any man to live and marry and beget children.’

If there was any skill used by Mr. Gibson so to word this speech as to conceal his own opinion, Mrs. Gibson was not sharp enough to find it out.  She was dismayed, and Mr. Gibson enjoyed her dismay; it restored him to something like his usual frame of mind.

‘Let us review this misfortune, for I see you consider it as such,’ said he.

‘No, not quite a misfortune,’ said she.  ’But certainly if I had known Dr Nicholls’ opinion—­’ she hesitated.

‘You see the advantage of always consulting me,’ he continued gravely.  ‘Here is Cynthia engaged—­’

’Not engaged, I told you before.  He would not allow it to be considered an engagement on her part.’

’Well, entangled in a love affair with a lad of three-and-twenty, with nothing beyond his fellowship and a chance of inheriting an encumbered estate; no profession even, abroad for two years, and I must go and tell his father all about it to-morrow.’

’Oh dear!  Pray say that, if he dislikes it, he has only to express his opinion.’

’I don’t think you can act without Cynthia in the affair.  And if I am not mistaken, Cynthia will have a pretty stout will of her own on the subject.’

’Oh, I don’t think she cares for him very much; she is not one to be always falling in love, and she does not take things very deeply to heart.  But of course one would not do anything abruptly; two years’ absence gives one plenty of time to turn oneself in.’

’But a little while ago we were threatened with consumption and an early death if Cynthia’s affections were thwarted.’

’Oh, you dear creature, how you remember all my silly words!  It might be, you know.  Poor dear Mr. Kirkpatrick was consumptive, and Cynthia may have inherited it, and a great sorrow might bring out the latent seeds.  At times I am so fearful.  But I dare say it is not probable, for I don’t think she takes things very deeply to heart.’