"Of course we will. And the first time someone mentions it boldly to me, I shall say: 'My cousin? Yes, he did pretend to be my brother. He is very like Patrick, isn't he? As if we were discussing cream-cakes. " She paused a moment and then added: "But I should like the news to get round before I'm too old to marry him."
"Are you thinking of it?" Bee said, taken aback.
"I'm set on it."
Bee hesitated; and then decided to let the future take care of itself.
"Don't worry. It will get round," she said.
"Now that Uncle Charles is here, and is going to settle down at Latchetts," she said later to Brat, "I can go back to having a life of my own somewhere else."
His eyes came away from the ceiling, and watched her.
"There's a place in Ulster I have my eye on. Tim Connell's place at Kilbarty."
She saw his fingers begin to play with the sheet, unhappily.
"Are you going away to Ulster, then?" he asked.
"Only if you will come with me, and run the stable for me."
The easy tears of the newly-convalescent rose in his eyes and ran down his cheek.
"Oh, Bee!" he said.
"I take it that means that my offer is accepted," she said.