Now
what, she wondered, would make the hand of a strong man shake like a
leaf? Deep emotion might do it, and Elizabeth thought that she detected
other signs of emotion in them both, besides that of Geoffrey's shaking
hand. The plot was working well, but could it be brought to a climax?
Oh, if he would only throw prudence to the winds and run away with
Beatrice, so that she might be rid of her, and free to fight for her own
hand.
Shortly after supper both Elizabeth and Beatrice went to bed, leaving
their father with Geoffrey.
"Well," said Mr. Granger, "did you get a word with Beatrice? It was very
kind of you to go that long tramp on purpose. Gracious, how it blows! we
shall have the house down presently. Lightning, too, I declare."
"Yes," answered Geoffrey, "I did."
"Ah, I hope you told her that there was no need for her to give up hope
of him yet, of Mr. Davies, I mean?"
"Yes, I told her that--that is if the greater includes the less," he
added to himself.
"And how did she take it?"
"Very badly," said Geoffrey; "she seemed to think that I had no right to
interfere.
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