554            The Channings
It might have passed muster, possibly, but for
Annabel's tongue, which appeared to be under no more
stringent rule that important morning than it was at
other times.
  " Hamish, that's wrong! It is Miss Huntley you
are to take in; not Ellen."
  Hamish had grown suddenly deaf. He walked on
with Ellen, leaving confusion to right itself. Arthur
stepped up in the dilemma, and the tips of Miss
Huntley's white-gloved fingers were laid upon his arm.
It would take her some time to forgive Hamish,
favourite though he was. Later on, Hamish took the
opportunity of reading Miss Annabel a private lecture
on the expediency of minding her own business.
  Hamish was in his new post, now, at the bank:
thoroughly well-established. He had not yet taken up
his abode in the house. It was too large, he laugh-
ingly said, for a single man.
  The breakfast came to an end, as other breakfasts
do; and next, Constance came down in her travelling
dress. Now that the moment of parting was come,
Constance in her agitation longed for it to be over.
She hurriedly wished them adieu, and lifted her tearful
face last to her father.
  Mr. Channing laid his hands upon her. " May God
bless my dear child, and be her guide and refuge for
ever! William Yorke, it is a treasure of great price
that I have given you this day. May she be as good
a wife as she has been a daughter!"
  Mr. Yorke, murmuring a few heartfelt words, put
Constance into the carriage, and they drove away.
  " It will be your turn next," whispered Hamish to
Ellen Huntley, who stood watching the departure from
one of the windows.
  What Ellen would have said-whether she would
have given any other answer than that accorded by
her blushing cheeks, cannot be told. The whisper had
not been quite so low as Hamish thought it, and it
was overheard by Mr. Huntley.
  " There may be two words to that bargain, Mr.
Hamish. "
  " Twenty, if you like, sir," responded Hamish
promptly, " so that they be affirmative ones."