Harold was carefully polite to the minister, throwing out a word to make him understand that he had an important part in the important business which had brought this unannounced visit; and the four made a group seated not far off each other near the window, Mrs Transome and Esther being on the sofa.
"You must be astonished at a visit from me. Miss Lyon," Mrs Transome began; "I seldom come to Treby Magna. Now I see you, the visit is an unexpected pleasure; but the cause of my coming is business of a serious nature, which my son will communicate to you."
"I ought to begin by saying that what I have to announce to you is the reverse of disagreeable. Miss Lyon," said Harold, with lively ease. "I don't suppose the world would consider it very good news for me; but a rejected candidate, Mr Lyon," Harold went on, turning graciously to the minister, "begins to be inured to loss and misfortune."
"Truly, sir," said Mr Lyon, with a rather sad solemnity, "your allusion hath a grievous bearing for me, but I will not retard your present purpose by further remark"
"You will never guess what I have to disclose,"
