While they were playing some old carols, Miss Caroline called Mr. Cragmore aside. "I've sent Bethany to light the candles on the tree in the drawing-room," she said. "May be you can help her."
Lois heard the whisper, and his hearty response, "May the saints bless you for that now!" She hurried into the hall to intercept Bethany.
"Ah ha, my lady," she said teasingly, "you needn't be putting everything off onto poor Aunt Caroline. I've just now discovered that she is only somebody's cat's-paw."
Bethany was irritated. She had been greatly touched by the winning tenderness of Cragmore's manner with the children. If there had been no memory of a past love in her life, she could have found in this man all the qualities that would inspire the deepest affection; but with that memory always present, she resented the slightest word that hinted of his interest in her.
She made Lois go with her to light the tapers, and that mischief-loving girl thoroughly enjoyed forestalling the little private interview Miss Caroline had planned for her protege.
It was still early in the evening, while the children were romping around the dismantled tree, that Cragmore announced his intention of leaving.
"I promised to talk at a Hebrew mission to-night," he explained, in answer to the remonstrances that greeted him on all sides.
"By the way," he exclaimed, "I intended to tell you about that, and I must stay a moment longer to do it."
He hung his overcoat on the back of a tall chair, and folded his arms across it.