Convinced at last that he was not joking, she went upstairs and put on
her bonnet, and then stood waiting for the reluctant Mr. Vickers with an
air of almost bashful diffidence.
"Joseph is coming in soon," said Selina, as her parents moved to the
door. "I'm expecting him every minute."
"I'll stop and see 'im," said Mr. Russell. "There's something I want to
speak to him about partikler."
Mr. Vickers gave a warning glance at him as he went out, and trembled as
he noted his determined aspect. In a state of considerable agitation he
took hold of his wife by the elbow and propelled her along.
It was a cold night, and a strong easterly wind had driven nearly
everybody else indoors. Mr. Vickers shivered, and, moving at a good
pace, muttered something to his astonished wife about "a good country
walk." They quitted the streets and plunged into dark lanes until, in
Mr. Vickers's judgment, sufficient time having elapsed for the worst to
have happened, they turned and made their way to the town again.
"There's somebody outside our house," said Mrs. Vickers, who had been in
a state of amazed discomfort the whole time.
Mr. Vickers approached warily.
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