Will you honour me by showing me the way to it ?" Rachel never moved.

Whether she was determined to bring matters to a crisis, or whether she was prompted by some private sign from Mr.Bruff, is more than I can tell.

She declined doing old Mr.Ablewhite the honour of conducting him into her sitting-room.
"Whatever you wish to say to me," she answered, "can be said here--in the presence of my relatives, and in the presence" (she looked at Mr.
Bruff) "of my mother's trusted old friend." "Just as you please, my dear," said the amiable Mr.Ablewhite.He took a chair.

The rest of them looked at his face--as if they expected it, after seventy years of worldly training, to speak the truth.

I looked at the top of his bald head; having noticed on other occasions that the temper which was really in him had a habit of registering itself THERE.
"Some weeks ago," pursued the old gentleman, "my son informed me that Miss Verinder had done him the honour to engage herself to marry him.
Is it possible, Rachel, that he can have misinterpreted--or presumed upon--what you really said to him ?" "Certainly not," she replied.