Presently Lance stretched across, and silently put a sheet of note-paper into her lap, hushing her by a sign. It had been begun in his best hand, and it must be confessed that that hand was at present a scratchy one, and there were various erasures.
DEAR SIR,
I have done my best to consider your kind and flattering proposal, and have come to the conclusion that for the present it will be better for me to continue where I am. There will thus be no need to apply to my eldest brother.
With my respectful thanks,
Yours faithfully,
LANCELOT O. UNDERWOOD.
Robina made a little pantomime of clapping her hands, for which Lance did not appear to thank her, but still in dumb show required her judgment on the choice of several words. She mutely marked her preference, and he returned to his place and copied it. Still he had not addressed the letter. He put it into his pocket, with a significant smile at his sister. Evening came, late service, supper; still it was in his pocket till the moment of bed-time, and then it was that Robina saw him linger with Edgar, and went to her room with a heart full of trembling prayer.
'Edgar,' as his brother arrived in the kitchen, and prepared his pipe, 'how shall I address this?'
'Eh! you needn't be in too great a haste. We had better break it to poor old Blunderbore first.'
'There's no breaking in the case. I'm not going.'
'Ah! I knew how it would be when you began running about to all the womankind in the house.'
'I've not spoken to a soul but Bobbie,' said Lance rather hotly, as Edgar laughed.
'Then one was enough to do your business?'
'I only spoke to her to clear my own mind.'