"You're welcome to our board, captain, if you will stay," said she.
"Thank you, that is kind of you," answered he, with real feeling in his voice. "I mustn't stay, I am due elsewhere, but I appreciate your asking me none the less."
He turned to me and shook hands with me warmly. Then he stopped in front of Joyce.
She did not lift her eyes; she put her hand silently into his out-stretched palm without, so far as I could see, the slightest tremor. He pressed the soft long fingers in his for a moment, and then he turned away without speaking.
Father and he went along the passage together, talking; and it was father who showed him out of the front door.
I was sorry that I had persuaded him to come to the Grange. Harrod had seen Joyce in tears, and would wonder what was the cause; and was it worth while to have gone through the very uncomfortable scene which had just taken place for anything that had been gained? It was Joyce's own fault, but it showed me how idle it was to hope to move her in any line of conduct which she had laid out for herself.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The next morning I was still more sorry that I had brought Frank to the Grange.