The strangeness of his step-father's letter grew upon him, and it rather fretted him to think that he could not find any plausible reason for going over to Melcombe to look about him.

He was therefore secretly vexed with his sister when he found that, in consequence of her request to John, the plans of all the Melcombes had been changed.

So Liz with a cheerful heart went to the sea-side with Mrs.Henfrey and Valentine, and very soon wrote home to Miss Christie Grant that Dorothea had joined them, that the long-talked-of offer had been made and (of course) accepted, and that Giles was come.

She did not add that Giles had utterly lost his heart again to his brother's bride elect, but that she would not have done if she had known it.
Miss Christie was wroth on the occasion.
"It's just shameful," she remarked.

"Everybody knew Miss Graham would accept him, but why can't she say how it was and when it was?
She's worse than her mother.