"You," said Lily.
"No, my dear Miss Lily," Mr. Sheldrake, with the slightest shade of tenderness in his tone; "it is you he will have to thank. Or stay," he added gaily, "suppose we say that he has to thank the pair of us. Suppose we say that we are working together--you and I--for Alfred's good. Shall we say so?"
"If you wish," said Lily faintly.
"That's a bargain," exclaimed Mr. Sheldrake heartily. "We enter into a compact to work together for Alfred's good. I'm sure he deserves it, for he's a good fellow, and such a partner as I've got can't ask anything that I would refuse. Let us shake hands on it."
Lily held out her hand, and Mr. Sheldrake pressed it tenderly.
"And now, my dear Miss Lily, where do you think Alfred has gone to now?"
"I don't know. He seemed very excited, all of a sudden, and very happy."
"He ought to be. Do you know he has a sweetheart, the happy fellow? Has he told you about Lizzie?"
"Yes, he told me only this morning."
"He will be here directly with her. She is waiting outside the park gates for him. Are you not pleased?"