To know every pulsing of pain;
To dream of Life’s happiest measure,
And find all her promises vain.’
Susan sees him first, and, pushing Bonnie gently from her, rises to meet him.
‘How do you do?’ says she.
‘That you, Wyndham?’ cries Crosby. ‘You are just in time to hear Tommy’s story. Miss Moore has promised to lend him her support during the recital.’
For all Crosby’s lightness of tone, there is a strange, scrutinizing expression in his clever eyes as he looks at Wyndham. He knows that Ella Moore’s presence here must prove a surprise to him; and how will he take it? The girl seems well enough, but—And if Wyndham has been capable of placing so close to this family of young, young people someone who—
He is studying Wyndham very acutely. But all that he can make out of Wyndham’s face is surprise, and something that might be termed relief—nothing more. As for the girl, she is the one that looks confused. She rises, holding Tommy by her side, and looks appealingly at Wyndham. She would have spoken, perhaps, but that the Rector, who has not yet gone back to his study, takes up the parable.
‘We are very glad to have persuaded Miss Moore to come here to-day,’ says he, in a tone to be heard by everyone. ‘She has told me that you came down this morning, bringing Miss Manning with you. That will be a source of pleasure to us all, I am quite sure.’
He bows his courteous old head as amiably as though Miss Manning over the road could hear him. It is a tribute to her perfections. After this he buttonholes Wyndham, and draws him apart a bit.