Nicholas rather elaborately urged his case.
"You mustn't think I want to force this idea of mine upon you, on any account. But it would ease my mind about you, when I have to be away all day. She's a lively sort of girl, full of spirit, and I don't fancy she has much of a time at home. They're shockingly badly off, too, and no doubt it would be a relief—however, that's not the point. But I think you'd like a girl of your own kind about the house, wouldn't you? Less professional than a regular nurse, and yet just as useful. She was most eager about doing anything for you—there'd be no nonsense about her."
"It would be more amusing for you in the evenings, after dinner," said Lily reflectively.
He looked vexed.
"That has nothing whatever to do with it, my dear. If you think I'm urging this idea with a view to my own——"
"No, no," cried Lily hastily.
In her weakness, she felt the tears rising to her throat at the mere apprehension of having offended him, or appeared to be ungrateful.
"I should really like it for my own sake, Nicholas. She sounds very nice indeed. Why shouldn't she come next week and stay till Aunt Clo comes?"
"That's entirely as you wish. It's for you to decide."
He still spoke with the ultra-gravity of tone that denoted that his curiously childish susceptibilities had been touched.