"Quite right--quite right," said the Squire, "that will take it out of
the custom."
"Perhaps the Solicitor to the Treasury may hold a different opinion,"
said Cossey, with another sneer.
Just then Ida took her hand from her face. There was a dewy look about
her eyes, and the last ripples of a happy smile lingered round the
corners of her mouth.
"Now that we have heard what Colonel Quaritch had to say," she said in
her softest voice, and addressing her father, "there is no reason why
we should not finish our business with Mr. Cossey."
Here Harold and George turned to go. She waved them back imperiously,
and began speaking before any one could interfere, taking up her
speech where she had broken it off when she caught sight of the
Colonel and George coming up the steps.
"I can no longer hesitate," she said, "but once and for all I decline
to marry you, Mr. Cossey, and I hope that I shall never see your face
again."
At this announcement the bewildered Squire put his hand to his head.
Edward Cossey staggered visibly and rested himself against the table,
while George murmured audibly, "That's a good job."
"Listen," said Ida, rising from her chair, her dark eyes flashing as
the shadow of all the shame and agony that she had undergone rose up
within her mind.
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