Everything stood still as they gazed at each other. Her own self gazed at her out of Miss Dear’s eyes.
“Well I’m bothered” said Miriam at last, sinking into a chair.
“No need to be bothered any more dear” laughed Miss Dear.
“It’s extraordinary.” She tried to recover the glory of the first moment in speechless contemplation of the radiant figure now moving chairs near to the lamp. The disappearance of the gas, the shaded lamp, the rector’s wife’s manner, the rector’s wife’s quiet stylish costume; it was like a prepared scene. How funny it would be to know a rector’s wife.
“He’s longing to meet you. I shall have a second room to-morrow. We will have a tea party.”
“Just before you came” said Miss Dear her glowing face bent, her hands brushing at the new costume. “You’ll be our greatest friend.”
“But how grand you are.”
“He made my future his care some days ago dear. As long as I live you shall want for nothing he said.”
“And to-day it all came out.”