The moment after, she felt how wrong it was, and would have atoned; but Mr. Harper had moved quickly from her side. Elizabeth called him; he seemed not to hear; Anne, closing her book, addressed him:
“Are you come to talk with us, or to fetch your wife away?”
“Neither,” he said, bitterly. But recovering himself—“Nay, Anne, I came for you. My father wishes to see you. He will hear nothing I can urge. You must come down and talk with him, or I do not know what will be done.”
Agatha had until now forgotten that her husband had intended after dinner to tell his father his plans concerning the stewardship. It had been apparently a harder task than he thought, to strive with the old Squire's prejudices. Seeing his extreme perturbation, Agatha repented herself deeply of any unkindness towards him.
She went to his side. “What is the matter? Tell me! Let me help you.”
“You!” he echoed; then added, with an accent studiously kind, “Thank you, Agatha. You are very good always.”
He let her take his arm and stand talking with himself and Miss Valery.
“I feared it would be so,” the latter said. “Your father has a strong will; still he can be persuaded. We must try.”
“But only persuasion—no reasons. Understand me, Anne—no reasons!”
Miss Valery looked at the young man very earnestly.