It had been timed to come on that day by special arrangement between them.

In it he named the earliest morning on which he could meet her at Plymouth.

Her father had been on a journey to Stratleigh, and returned in unusual buoyancy of spirit.

It was a good opportunity; and since the dismissal of Stephen her father had been generally in a mood to make small concessions, that he might steer clear of large ones connected with that outcast lover of hers.
'Next Thursday week I am going from home in a different direction,' said her father.

'In fact, I shall leave home the night before.