Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/300

290 "I never received the most distant hint of such an intention."

"It must have crossed you on your way then—it should have reached you yesterday morning—it was rather late, I acknowledge. But what brought you here then, if you received no information?"

It was now my turn to be confounded; but the young lady, who had been busily patting the snow with her foot during our short, sotto voce colloquy, very opportunely came to my assistance by pinching her companion's arm and whispering a suggestion that his friend should be invited to step into the carriage and go with them; it being scarcely agreeable to stand there among so many gazers, and keeping their friends waiting, into the bargain.

"And so cold as it is too!" said he, glancing with dismay at her slight drapery, and immediately handing her into the carriage. "Markham, will you come? We are going to Paris, but we can drop you anywhere between this and Dover."