Nevill was still rattling on, and Miss Osborne looking at him in stupefied wonder. When breakfast was over, Osborne went to Marie and said,--
'Surely you don't intend staying within all this lovely day?'
'Yes, I do,' she answered, with a quiet smile.
'But,' he urged, 'you remember your promise that for the month--'
'Yes, I recollect. I am afraid I shall break that promise in more ways than one.'
He started, and looked anxiously, eagerly at her.
'When will you tell me? I shall be most uneasy until I hear.'
'But is what I am to hear good or bad? You cannot do less than answer that question.'
She looked into his eyes, and, with a half-roguish smile, answered,--
'That will depend on whether you are what I fancy you to be, or not.'
'If I am what you fancy, shall I be pleased with what you have to tell me?'
'I think so. You must not ask me any more now. Your sister and I will stay in all day, and you and Mr Nevill are to go somewhere. Go to some man's place, for we want you to take us to all the places we may go to; and, of course, if you two selfish men go to a place we may see, you will not make a second visit merely to bring us. Mr Nevill,' she called aloud. Nevill was standing at the farther end of the room talking to Miss Osborne.
'Since we are not to be favoured with the society of you or Miss Gordon to-day, I'll answer for Mr Osborne.' Turning to Osborne, he said,--'I'll tell you what we will do. Go to the meeting of the Prehistoric Society. Have you ever been at one?'
'Then you shall come with me. I have never been at one, but I know all about them. Do you take any interest in science?'
'Nonsense! How extraordinary! An intellectual man like you take no interest in science? I can scarcely believe you! Science is the only thing worth thinking of now. Not take an interest in science! Why, science was invented by the nineteenth century, and it will invent the world of the twentieth.'
'I am greatly afraid,' said Osborne gravely, 'it has already invented more than is good for man or the world.'
'What! Do you mean to say telephones and express trains, fresh American meat and electric lights, and gas and gutta-percha and lucifer-matches and hair-brushing by machinery have been injurious to man? What nonsense! I own we are not to congratulate ourselves on gunpowder and ordnance and paraffin oil.'