‘As for me,’ declared Nora, solemnly, ’nothing shall make me go back to the Islands unless Mr Stanbury should tell me to do so.’

‘And they start at the end of July?’

‘On the last Saturday.’

‘And what will you do then, Nora?’

‘I believe there are casual wards that people go to.’

‘Casual wards!’ said Caroline.

‘Miss Rowley is condescending to poke her fun at you,’ said Mr Glascock.

’She is quite welcome, and shall poke as much as she likes; only we must be serious now.  If it be necessary, we will get back by the end of July, won’t we, Charles?’

‘You will do nothing of the kind,’ said Nora.  ’What! give up your honeymoon to provide me with board and lodgings!  How can you suppose that I am so selfish or so helpless?  I would go to my aunt, Mrs Outhouse.’

‘We know that that wouldn’t do,’ said Caroline.  ’You might as well be in Italy as far as Mr Stanbury is concerned.’

‘If Miss Rowley would go to Monkhams, she might wait for us,’ suggested Mr Glascock.  ’Old Mrs Richards is there; and though of course she would be dull—­’

‘It is quite unnecessary,’ said Nora.  ’I shall take a two-pair back in a respectable feminine quarter, like any other young woman who wants such accommodation, and shall wait there till my young man can come and give me his arm to church.  That is about the way we shall do it.  I am not going to give myself any airs, Mr Glascock, or make any difficulties.  Papa is always talking to me about chairs and tables and frying-pans, and I shall practise to do with as few of them as possible.  As I am headstrong about having my young man, and I own that I am headstrong about that, I guess I’ve got to fit myself for that sort of life.’  And Nora, as she said this, pronounced her words with something of a nasal twang, imitating certain countrywomen of her friend’s.

’I like to hear you joking about it, Nora; because your voice is so cheery and you are so bright when you joke.  But, nevertheless, one has to be reasonable, and to look the facts in the face.  I don’t see how you are to be left in London alone, and you know that your aunt Mrs Outhouse or at any rate your uncle would not receive you except on receiving some strong anti-Stanbury pledge.’

‘I certainly shall not give an anti-Stanbury pledge.’

’And, therefore, that is out of the question.  You will have a fortnight or three weeks in London, in all the bustle of their departure, and I declare I think that at the last moment you will go with them.’

‘Never! unless he says so.’

‘I don’t see how you are even to meet “him,” and talk it over.’

’I’ll manage that.  My promise not to write lasts only while we are in Italy.’

’I think we had better get back to England, Charles, and take pity on this poor destitute one.’