He placed his hand on hers, which she suddenly withdrew.
“Mr. Fortescue,” she cried, “You don’t seem yourself to-day; I don’t know what to mek of you.”
At this moment Kitty who had been at work in the back kitchen came in. She took up a pail of water which was standing near the door and went out again as if she had not noticed them.
Mrs. Ashbrook had looked uneasy, and had shrunk back a little when she entered.
The scoundrel saw this, and his eyes shone triumphantly.
“I should like to make pastry as well as you do,” said he, following her to the table, and standing close beside her.
He pretended to assist her, and sometimes their fingers met, and sometimes his hand encountered as if by accident, her soft bare arm. A faint colour, the harbinger of a blush, tinged her cheeks, and her eyes were lowered upon the table.
She was in a state of trepidation, but did not know very well how to get rid of her tormentor.
“I hope I am not in your way, Mrs. Ashbrook,” he said, in a respectful tone.
“Oh, dear no,” she returned, “not at all; you will be away the whole of Saturday.”