Nonesuch Part VI

Waldo determinedly proposes to Ancilla, and she refuses him. Unable to bring herself to talk about his supposed children, she refuses because she says she does not want to give up her teaching work. He tells her that if she likes teaching so much, he can offer her work managing a school at his home, Manifold. Shocked she finally manages to bring up the issue of his having children, seemingly quite a number, outside wedlock. He tells her that he has about 20 children that will be coming to Broom Hall..and then reveals that they are orphans, and that his favourite charity is trying to help them. Ancilla feels very foolish at her misundertanding, and accepts his offer. Then they learn of Tiffany's disappearance. Her maid says that she has left with a bag of clothes, so she is obviously trying to get away from Staples her home. Courtenay who has never liked his cousin, is furious that she is trying to cause such a scandal, rejecting all the care that his mother has shown her. Ancilla asks Waldo, who is a skilled driver, to help her chase after Tiffany and they head for York.. where they find that she and Laurie had hired a room in a hotel, but that a big row has been heard going on. Waldo amused, talks to his cousin who says that he sent a message, because he was trying to stop Tiffany from the folly of running away. Waldo is a little amused at Laurie's desperate attempts to show himself being helpful. He learns that his cousin told Tiffany that he would pawn her necklace to get money for the coach to London, and when she found out he was not doing that, she threw a vase at him and hit him with it. Laurie protests that he was trying to help Waldo, Ancilla and Tiffany herself, and that he wishes he had never gotten into a flirtation with such an awful bratty young girl but he did it out of good reasons. Ancilla and Waldo go to speak to Tiffany, and Ancilla finds that the awkward situation may resolve itself. She tells her charge that Tiffany has caused such a fuss by running away and staying at an inn where the Underhills are well known, that it seems best for her to leave Yorkshire and start afresh in London. Tiffany is not abashed at all. She is very pleased that she can go to London and get out of the provincial village, and she believes that her London base aunt will bring her out because she is obviously too old to be kept in the schoolroom and she's sure to find a rich husband. Ancilla tells Waldo she will have to take Tiffany to London and hand her over to her mother's family but it is probalby best if she is out of Staples, and if poor Mrs Underhill no longer has to try and handle her. She tells him that she wants to marry him and have him meet her family but she will not leave Mrs Underhill till she has found a replacement to be Charlotte's governess. He agrees as he has grown to like and respect Mrs Underhill.. and he finally tells Laurie that he will lend him the money to set up selling horses.