Mrs. CRANE.—“You would indeed be a benefactor. And where are they now, sir?”
OXONIAN.—“That I cannot positively tell you. But before I say more, will you kindly satisfy my curiosity? He is perhaps an eccentric person,—this Mr. Waife?—a little—” The Oxonian stopped, and touched his forehead. Mrs. Crane made no prompt reply: she was musing. Unwarily the scholar continued: “Because, in that case, I should not like to interfere.”
MRS. CRANE.—“Quite right, sir. His own friends would not interfere with his roving ways, his little whims on any account. Poor man, why should they? He has no property for them to covet. But it is a long story. I had the care of that dear little girl from her infancy, sweet child!”
OXONIAN.—“So she seems.”
MRS. CRANE.—“And now she has a most comfortable home provided for her; and a young girl, with good friends, ought not to be tramping about the country, whatever an old man may do. You must allow that, sir?”
OXONIAN.—“Well,—yes, I allow that; it occurred to me. But what is the man?—the gentleman?”
MRS. CRANE.—“Very ‘eccentric,’ as you say, and inconsiderate, perhaps, as to the little girl. We will not call it insane, sir. But—are you married?”
OXONIAN (blushing).—“No, ma’am.”
MRS. CRANE.—“But you have a sister, perhaps?”
OXONIAN.—“Yes; I have one sister.”