Huntley shook his fist at him. "If you ever bring that reproach up
to me again, I'll--I'll--You had better keep friends with me, you know,
sir, on other scores."
Hamish laughed. "I should like the post very much indeed, sir."
"And the house also, I suppose, you would make no objection to?" nodded
Mr. Huntley.
"None in the world. I must work away, though, if it is ever to be
furnished."
"How can you tell but that some good spirit might furnish it for you?"
cried Mr. Huntley, quaintly.
They were interrupted before anything more was said. Ellen, who had
been out with her aunt, came running in, in excitement. "Oh, papa! such
happy news! Charles Channing is found, and--"
She stopped when she saw that she had another auditor. Hamish rose to
greet her. He took her hand, released it, and then returned to the fire
to Mr. Huntley. Ellen stood by the table, and had grown suddenly timid.
"You will soon be receiving a visit from my mother and Constance,"
observed Hamish, looking at her. "I heard certain arrangements being
discussed, in which Miss Ellen Huntley's name bore a part. We are soon
to lose Constance."
Ellen blushed rosy red. Mr. Huntley was the first to speak. "Yorke has
come to his senses, I suppose?"
"Yorke and Constance between them. In a short time she is to be
transplanted to Hazledon."
"It is more than he deserves," emphatically declared Mr. Huntley. "I
suppose you will be for getting married next, Mr.
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