She was looking down at her work, and he could not detect all the mischief that sparkled under her drooping lashes.
"Clara, what does this mean?"
The girl looked up at him so innocently.
"Mean? Why, it means a cactus-flower."
Hepworth Closs had never been a patient man, and the feelings which that wild girl had awakened in his heart were all too earnest for such trifling. He rose to leave her. Then she gave him a side glance, half comic, half repentant.
"Are you going?"
"Yes."
"Dear me, I am so sorry, because I wanted to tell you something."
The girl spoke and acted like a penitent child. Hepworth sat down again, but his face was clouded.
"You can do anything with mamma Rachael, and I want you to ask a great favor for me."