"Then," said John, as he too came forward and shook hands with her with an air of hearty kindness, "pray take the book. Do let us show how much we respect you; how entirely we regard you as one of the family."
Guy turned a look of grateful pleasure to his father; but Miss Silver, colouring more than ever, still held back.
"No, I cannot; indeed I cannot."
"Why can you not?"
"For several reasons."
"Give me only one of them—as much as can be expected from a young lady," said Mr. Halifax, good-humouredly.
"Mr. Guy ordered the Flora for himself. I must not allow him to renounce his pleasure for me."
"It would not be renouncing it if YOU had it," returned the lad, in a low tone, at which once more his younger brother looked up, angrily.
"What folly about nothing! how can one read with such a clatter going on?"
"You old book-worm! you care for nothing and nobody but yourself," Guy answered, laughing. But Edwin, really incensed, rose and settled himself in the far corner of the room.