I say nothing about Sir Robert, because he was always fond of me, and would almost as soon have parted from his Nancy.
Now it was a week and more since I had, without knowing it, received those overtures of love from Harry Temple and Will, which I took in my innocence for mere overtures of friendship and brotherly affection. They thought, being conceited, like all young men, that I had at once divined their meaning and accepted their proposals; no doubt they gave themselves credit for condescension and me for gratitude. Therefore, when, the evening before I came away, Harry Temple begged me, with many protestations of regret, not to inform Sir Robert or madam of his intentions, I knew not what to say. What intentions? why should I not?
"Reigning star of Beauty!" he cried, laying his hand upon his heart, "I entreat thy patience for a twelvemonth. Alas! such separation! who can bear it!
"'Fond Thyrsis sighs, through mead and vale, His absent nymph lamenting----'"
"O Harry!" I cried, "what do I care about Thyrsis and absent nymphs? You have promised to bring me back in a year. Very well, then, I shall expect you. Of course you can tell Sir Robert whatever you please. It is nothing to me what you tell Sir Robert or my lady."
"She is cold as Diana," said Harry, with a prodigious sigh; but I broke from him, and would hear no more such nonsense. Sighing shepherds and cruel nymphs were for ever on Harry Temple's lips.
As for Will, of course he wanted to have an explanation too. He followed Harry, and, in his rustic way, begged to say a word or two.
"I promised a twelvemonth," he explained. "I'll not go back upon my word. I _did_ say a twelvemonth."
"A twelvemonth? Oh yes. You said the same as Harry, I remember."
"I don't know what Harry said, but I'll swear, whatever Harry said, I said just the clean contrary. Now, then, liberty's sweet, my girl. Come, let us say fifteen months. Lord! when a man is twenty-one he don't want to be tied by the heels all at once. Let's both have our run first. You are but a filly yet--ay--a six months' puppy, so to say."
"You said a twelvemonth, Will," I replied, little thinking of what he meant. How, indeed, could I know? "I shall expect you in a twelvemonth."