"I'll tell you the
truth at once, Miss Effingham," he said. "You can do it by a single
word."
"Yes;--yes;" she said; "but I do not mean that;--without that. It
is absurd, you know, that a father should make such a condition as
that." Phineas said that he thought it was absurd; and then they rode
on again, cantering through the wood. He had been bold to speak to
her about Lord Chiltern as he had done, and she had answered just as
he would have wished to be answered. But how could he press his suit
for himself while she was cantering by his side?
Presently they came to rough ground over which they were forced to
walk, and he was close by her side. "Mr. Finn," she said, "I wonder
whether I may ask a question?"
"Any question," he replied.
"Is there any quarrel between you and Lady Laura?"
"None."
"Or between you and him?"
"No;--none. We are greater allies than ever."
"Then why are you not going to be at Loughlinter? She has written to
me expressly saying you would not be there."
He paused a moment before he replied. "It did not suit," he said at
last.
"It is a secret then?"
"Yes;--it is a secret. You are not angry with me?"
"Angry; no."
"It is not a secret of my own, or I should not keep it from you."
"Perhaps I can guess it," she said.
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