“Yes; but I think when you say who it is—”
“She would not see that young man that was in the regiment with her brother, and he was here every day, wet or dry, to ask after her.”
“Well, take in my card now, and I 'll answer for it she'll not refuse me.”
The old woman took the card half sulkily from his hand, and returned in a few minutes to say that Miss Kellett would receive him.
Dressed in mourning of the very humblest and cheapest kind, and with all the signs of recent suffering and sorrow about her, Sybella Kellett yet received Mr. Dunn with a calm and quiet composure for which he was scarcely prepared.
“If I have been importunate, Miss Kellett,” said he, “it is because I desire to proffer my services to you. I feel assured that you will not take ill this assistance on my part I would wish to be thought a friend—”
“You were so to my father, sir,” said she, interrupting, while she held her handkerchief to her eyes.
Dunn's face grew scarlet at these words, but, fortunately for him, she could not see it.
“I had intended to have written to you, sir,” said she, with recovered composure. “I tried to do so this morning, but my head was aching so that I gave it up. I wanted your counsel, and indeed your assistance. I have no need to tell you that I 'm left without means of support. I do not want to burden relatives, with whom, besides, I have had no intercourse for years; and my object was to ask if you could assist me to a situation as governess, or, if not, to something more humble still. I will not be difficult to please,” said she, smiling sadly, “for my pretensions are of the very humblest.”
“I 'm aware how much you underrate them. I 'm no stranger to Miss Kellett's abilities,” said Dunn, bowing.