“Why, what did he say?”
“I’ll tell you in a few words. He asked me to live with him and be his partner.”
“I guessed that might be it, for we were all talking about it. And what was your answer?”
“Why, he told me to give him an answer this morning; and it’s such a grand prospect for a poor man like myself. But then, I am not used to live amongst your class, Miss Annie, and I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, then, I will tell you what to say; and you must say it to please me. Tell my father that you will be glad to avail yourself of his terms. And as to what you say about ‘class,’ I daresay you will get accustomed to ours, and all the other ‘classes’ round about here, in time.”
“Then, Miss Annie, I’ll say as you tell me.”
There was a noble specimen of the crimson-flowered “poinciania-tree” growing near to the entrance of the house, and a seat had been put up under its shady branches. This tree was a favourite resort of various members of the family, by reason of the cool currents of air which played around it. The verandah, though perfectly shady, was rather confined as to atmosphere; the perfume of the creepers which shut it in was also rather overpowering.
After his conversation with Annie, our forester departed to look for the squire, but not finding him thought that he would smoke a pipe under the “poinciania-tree,” and there await his return.
Strolling up to the seat, he found it already occupied by Annie, who had brought her work there.
“I cannot find your father. Miss Annie, do you know, I was thinking, before I spoke with you just now, that I would go back to England with Tim.”