‘So I was, but I shall not go—­till you go with me, Emily.’

She looked at him with anxious eyes.

’Well, I will tell you all there is to tell.  In the first place, my father and my aunt think that the plan of your returning to teach the little girls is not a very good one.’

He spoke with perfect cheerfulness, but firmly, as was his wont.  Emily’s eyes fell.

‘I have felt it myself,’ she said.

’And so have I; so that we are happily all agreed.  We talked it all over after you had gone on Friday, and since then I have taken time to make up my mind.  I can see that you would he uncomfortable in the house under such conditions; at the same time it is certainly out of the question that you should go elsewhere; and so—­come to London and let us be married as soon as the arrangements can be made.’

’I don’t quite understand, Wilfrid.  Do you mean that your father approves this?’

’They all went off to-day.  He knows, no doubt, what my intention is.  In a matter like this I must judge for myself.’

She was silent, then asked with apprehension, ‘Has it caused trouble?’

‘Of the kind which passes as soon as it has been well talked about,’ he answered with a smile; ‘nothing more serious.’

She could not meet his look.

‘And you wish not to return to Oxford?’

’I have done with that.  I see now that to go back and play the schoolboy would have been impossible; all that is over and a new life beginning—­you will be in readiness to come up as soon as I scud for you?’

She looked in his face now with pleading.

’It is too hasty, Wilfrid.  It was better, far better, that we should wait till next year.  Can it be your father’s wish that your marriage should take place in his absence?  You know that I have no foolish desires; the more simply everything is done the better it will please me.  But I would, I would have it done with your father’s goodwill.  I foresaw his objections only too well; they are natural, it could not be otherwise; but I hoped that time would help.  Let us wait!’

She closed both hands on his, and gazed at him steadily.

‘I think you must be guided by me, Emily,’ he replied, with his calm self-assertiveness.  ’There is no reason why we should wait.  My father is a man who very sensibly accepts the accomplished fact.  His own marriage, I may tell you, was an affair of decision in the face of superficial objections, and he will only think the better of me for following his example.  You say, and I am sure, that you care nothing for the show of a wedding; if you did, I should not be here at this moment.  It is only for that that we need postpone the marriage.  I will take rooms till I can find a house and have it made ready for us.’

Emily kept silence.  She had released his hand.  There were signs on her face of severe inward conflict.

‘Will you let me go and see your parents?’ he asked.  ’Shall our marriage take place here?  To me it is the same; I would only be ruled by your choice.  May I go home with you now?’