Whatever
brings him here so often? He ought to have something better to
do with his time than to be idling it away over afternoon tea.
Is he looking after Madge?"
"Poor little Madge!" answered Mrs. Vavasour, laughing. "No, I
wish I could think Mr. Morris had nothing more serious on
hand: but it is much more likely to be Maria."
"Maria!" cried the doctor; "is that what the man is up to? But
surely he knows she is engaged to Horace."
"Indeed I much doubt it," Mrs. Vavasour answered; "the
engagement was to be a secret, and I am not aware that any one
knows of it but ourselves, and Aunt Barbara--and Miss Linders
probably--and if Maria will not enlighten Mr. Morris as to how
matters stand, I do not see what any one else can do."
"Then Molly is very much to blame; and I have a great mind to
tell her so."
"I think you had better let things take their own course,"
said Mrs. Vavasour. "Maria is quite old enough to know what
she is about, and Horace will be down here in a few days to
look after his own interests."
"Well, but--bless my soul!" cried the doctor, "I can't make it
out at all.
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